We need to work on fitness level of our players – Fazil Marija

Wednesday, 15 May 2019 01:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Asia Rugby Championship Division 1 in Taipei (overline)

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lanka national XV a side rugby outfit is hard at training under the leadership of Omalka Gunaratne. They won one game against the Malaysian Barbarians and lost out to the Malaysian national outfit on tour early this month.

Fazil Marija confident with the team to perform well in Taipei

Speaking exclusively to the Daily FT, Sri Lanka three quarter coach Fazil Marija said “We need to work on our player’s fitness levels. We have a few injury worries but they have ample time to recover. Kevin Dixon (CR & FC) and Tharindu Chanaka (Kandy SC) are nursing injuries but also having light training. We will watch their level of fitness during the last week before the departure to Taipei. We are hoping to have a three day camp at Welisara before the tour to Taipei. We wanted to have this camp before the Malaysian tour, but due to uncertain security situation in the country we could not. But now things have settled down we will have a better bonding with the player before the Asia Rugby Championship Division 1 tour on 26 May.

“We have a squad of 37 players where we will need to pick a squad of 26 for this tour. Roshan Weeraratne, who pulled out of the Malaysian tour due to personal commitments,also returned for training, which is good for the team where his experience will play a major part. We will play Philippines in our first game on 29 May, we want to win this, plus the last one three days later. We need to work hard but with the players commitment, coaching staff Head Matt Lee, Viraj Prasanna and I are working hard to bring the Division 1 trophy to Sri Lanka and earn a promotion in 2020 for the Asia Rugby Top Three along with South Korea and Hong Kong,” he added.

Kavindu back at home in Kandy