Old Trinitians Sports Club is 25 years old

Saturday, 19 December 2015 00:00 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Old Trinitians Sports Club (OTSC) celebrated its silver jubilee on 12 December with some functions taking place among its members at their Asgiriya Club House last Saturday.

The original idea to form a club was of the late A.G.G. Perera, a loyal old boy, educationist and sportsman, who on 6 May, 1978 requested then Principal to look into the possibilities of forming a club for old boys. His intentions were mainly to give an opportunity to the present boys to take part in sports at a higher level and gain experience and help those who do not have a chance to represent at club level. The initial response from old boys was poor as many were under the impression that this might bring in a rift with the central Old Boys Association (OBA). However, after discussions at various levels, Harindra Dunuwille tabled a letter from A.G.G. Perera at a committee meeting of the TCK OBA on 3 September, 1979 requesting the formation of a club. It was decided to place this proposal at the Annual General Meeting on 19 July, 1980.

OTSC was formally inaugurated with A.G.G. Perera elected as the first President and Leonard Alwis as the first Secretary on 19 July, 1980 with 53 members elected as founder members. In 1990, late Halimdeen, who was instrumental in bringing the club to this level, approached one of their old boys, Chairman East West Groups Nahil Wijeratne to come forward, sponsor and revamp the club with modern facilities. From their onwards there was no looking back for this club representing in sports such as cricket, rugby, hockey and basketball. At one time, in the early 1990s, the club represented the “A” Division rugby among the leading clubs in the country with two overseas players from South Africa and Fiji representing them.

Present President Nico De Silva and his committee had done a grand job in the recent years to keep this club as one of the leading social gathering places in the up country.

The Old Trinitians Sports Club (OTSC) celebrated its silver jubilee on 12 December with some functions taking place among its members at their Asgiriya Club House last Saturday.

The original idea to form a club was of the late A.G.G. Perera, a loyal old boy, educationist and sportsman, who on 6 May, 1978 requested then Principal to look into the possibilities of forming a club for old boys. His intentions were mainly to give an opportunity to the present boys to take part in sports at a higher level and gain experience and help those who do not have a chance to represent at club level. The initial response from old boys was poor as many were under the impression that this might bring in a rift with the central Old Boys Association (OBA). However, after discussions at various levels, Harindra Dunuwille tabled a letter from A.G.G. Perera at a committee meeting of the TCK OBA on 3 September, 1979 requesting the formation of a club. It was decided to place this proposal at the Annual General Meeting on 19 July, 1980.

OTSC was formally inaugurated with A.G.G. Perera elected as the first President and Leonard Alwis as the first Secretary on 19 July, 1980 with 53 members elected as founder members. In 1990, late Halimdeen, who was instrumental in bringing the club to this level, approached one of their old boys, Chairman East West Groups Nahil Wijeratne to come forward, sponsor and revamp the club with modern facilities. From their onwards there was no looking back for this club representing in sports such as cricket, rugby, hockey and basketball. At one time, in the early 1990s, the club represented the “A” Division rugby among the leading clubs in the country with two overseas players from South Africa and Fiji representing them.

Present President Nico De Silva and his committee had done a grand job in the recent years to keep this club as one of the leading social gathering places in the up country.

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