Sportsman Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa remembered on his 23rd death anniversary

Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa was remembered by Kandy's sports loving fraternity, on his 23rd death anniversary last Saturday. Late Denzil was a colorful military officer and a fine rugby personality. He died twenty three years ago in August, whilst commanding the security forces in the north when the vehicle he was travelling went over a pressure mine. He was a gentleman on and off the rugby field during his playing days. After hanging up his boots he continued his contribution to rugby as a reputed referee a knowledgeable coach and an able administrator.

He was one of the finest warriors ever produced by the Army in our contemporary history and he fell silent on August 8, 1992 during that time with a few more fellow military veterans. died. Others who lost their livesd were Major General Wijaya Wimalarathne, Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha, Lt. Colonel H.R Stephen, Lt. Colonel G.H Ariyarathne, Lt. Colonel Y.N Palipana, Commander Asanga Lankathilaka, Lt. Colonel Nalin de Alwis, Lt. Commander C.B Wijepura and Private W.J Wickremasinghe while they were on a military assignment in the North.

Denzil as he was popularly known began his brilliant school carrier, first at Hillwood Girls College and later at Trinity College, where his sporting career started. His rugby started at Trinity College Kandy, At that time this school was known as the cradle of rugby in the country. He was also a top class hockey player. He won colors and the coveted Lion in rugby, along with P.A. Bultjens and E.D.K. Roles in 1959. Also hockey colors in the same year together with L.U.B. Disanayake, N.C. Molligoda and L.S. Perera., and he also was an Athelete, Basketball player and a cricketer.

At Trinity he was also a School Prefect of Lemuel House in 1960 and later appointed Senior Prefect, in the same year. However this appointment lasted only for a week since he opted to pursue a career with the Army.

He first played rugger for the senior team in 1957 under Ken B de Joodt, and paired off as scrum half with fly half Nimal Maralande.

The other team mates were Uvais Odayar, S.P. de Silva, P. A Bulltjens Jnr., H. Godigamuwe, Rohan H Wijanayake, Mike de Alwis, J. 'Dias de Singhe , E.D.K. Roles, R.B.Wijekoon, A.R. Frank, N.T. E Brohier, where in the key game against Royal for the Bradby 1st leg Trinity won 8-0, and the second leg too 9-8. And in the following year it was Ken B de Joodt who led the side. This time they lost the Bradby after a long spell.

In 1959 it was Denzil's turn to captain. Royal were led by M.L. Anghie , and had players of the calibre of G. Vangeyzel, E.L.Perera, O.G. Samaratunge, M.T. Rahim, L. Senaratne, M.L.Anghie, R.Pothuera, D.N. Fernando, R. Sivaratnam, R. Fernando, H.S. de Silva, M.L.Loos, K. Balendra, L. de Sivla., C de Zoysa and J.V.P. Samarasekara.

Denzil's Trinity side was made up of M. Talwatte, A.R.M.Azain, E.D.K. Roles, P.A. Buultjens, and S. Janakiram. Ken Murray, Jayantissa Ratwatte, T.P. Hermon, Jayantha Jayawardene, S.C de Silva, Gamini Fernando, T. Haroon Chunchi, R. Madena, R.W. Madugalle, R.R. Samarakoon. Royal won the first leg 5-0 at Bogambara Grounds refereed by Mahesh Rodrigo, and the second leg at Longden Place Trinity won 6-0 which game was refereed by V.S de Livera.

It was in 1960 that Denzil began his illustrious career in the Army and went for training to England at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst for two years.

After successfully completing his training he returned to the country and was a regular member of the Army rugger team, which he went on to captain later.

He played for the Army in 1964/65 seasons along with C.S. Fernando, Dr. C.Thuairajah, Sarath Wijesinghe, Tunku Ousman, S. Ranjanayam, A.N. Peries, Ginige Edwin, Anderson Jayaratne, Piyadasa Chandrasekra, S. Wanasinghe, Neville Sheddon, D. Mendis.

In 1966 he was unfortunately sent on compulsory leave and during that time and played for Havelock Sports Club. In 1967 he came back to the city where he learnt the game, and played for Kandy Sports Club. Denzi'ls finest year in rugby was in 1969, where under his leadership Kandy Sports Club rose to great heights and beat league champions Havelock Sports Club 11-8 in the Clifford Cup quarter-finals. They went on to beat CH and FC 3-0 in the semifinals with a Shafie Jainudeen penalty and in the finals went down to CR and FC 6-12.

This cup final for Kandy Sports Club was after the 1955 final. Those who played with him in that famous team were Y.C.Chang who was the pack leader and motivator, Mohan Balasuriya, Gavin Stevens, Rohan Abeyasundara, D. Makuloluwa, Deepal de Zoysa, Jadi Dissanayake, Gamini Udugama, Jayantissa Ratwattte, Lakshman Samaravijaya, Sam Samarasekara, , Chang Faa Ching, George Jayasenaa, Sahfie Jainu Deen , Reserves Iswan Omar was side lined with Fedrick Prins both were injured in the semifinal game.

In the same year 1969, Denzil's greatest moment was in August when Sri Lanka played against Bosons. It was a two test series.

In both games Sri Lanka went down fighting and Denzil playing a key role in containing the visitors by tackling his opposite number Nick Vosper to a standstill and hit it off smoothly with fly half Omar Sheriff. In the same year in October he toured Singapore with the Sri Lanka team. He also played for Defence Services, and Up-Country in the Capper Cup.

Once again in 1970 he was recalled to the Army and he continued his rugby. Then in 1971/72 when Army did not take part in rugby due to the insurgency Denzil t Denzil once again turned out for CR Bees. He created history by becoming the first secretary of the SLRFU while being in the game.

Denzil, as a player, referee, coach, administrator has rendered invaluable service. He had the privilege of blowing the whistle in the first SLRFU Presidents Trophy and R. Premadasa trophy finals in 1978 and 1984. And also the Bradby and Clifford Cup finals.

He was the 1974 Rugby Asiad SLRFU secretary under the presidency of Summa Navaratnam. Later Denzil was offered the Vice Presidency of the SLRFU on several occasions in the 1980's which was the stepping stone to the SLRFU presidency. But he turned down the offers as he considered his service to the country more important than to rugby.

Then in 1967 and 78 he coached his school, and produced two champion teams which had players such as Ajith Abeyarthne, Rangith "Gogi" Tilakarathne, Jupana Jayawardene, Iswan Omar, Shafie Jainudeen, S. Sundaraligam, Glen Vlangenburg, P.M. Talwatte, Anura Madawella, Gotaba Dissanayake, Gamini Udugama.

Sri Lanka's rugby king maker, Malik Samarawickrema, who put up the new pavilion at Nittawella, named it after his good friend Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekkduwa. Then came in the Central Province RFU and Western Province RFU rugby game for a trophy in his memory. Later this trophy was contested for in the inter club sevens. What happened to this trophy and the tournament?

Denzil was held in high esteem by successive governments. To his credit, has served the nation with dedication at crucial times and proud to mention his efforts have been successful and fruitful. During the time of late J.R. Jayawardene's presidency, Denzil was invited by the president to join him him for the SAARC summit in Islamabad in Pakistan. he came back to the country and on the same day had to leave for London, as he was selected to follow a course in studies at the Royal College of Defence in London.

Denzil during his rugby playing days for Kandy Sports Club met Lalini Ratwatte, the younger daughter of Kenneth and Merle Ratwatte, and married her in December 1970. They were blessed with three children, Roshani, Shanilka and Dilshan. Denzil was born on 27th of July 1940, and said bye good on 8th August 1992; His demise was a great loss to Sri Lanka. I had the opportunity of associating with Denzil in rugby. He was a close and dear friend of my late uncle M.Enver Marikar who was a reputed sportsman and journalist.