Hafiz Marikar
Tuan Z Dole, led St. Anthony’s College rugby team in 1972, the year in which Antonian rugby team enjoyed one of the finest seasons, when for the first time the Antonians were able to beat Trinity College by 13 – 7 in a nail-biting finish. That year the Antonians were coached by the famous Havelock SC, Kandy Lake Club and Sri Lanka Centre three quarter Maurice de Silva a product of St.Peter’s College.
In that year they won six games against, St. Joseph's, St.Benedict's, Kingswood, S. Thomas, Thurstan and Trinity, and drew with St.Peter's and lost to Royal. That year Tuan Dole got the maximum support of his brother Farook Dole, presently in Australia, who played rugby for the Kandy Lake Club, Kandy Sports Club and Up-Country and his father Hajireen Dole who was a Police officer and a prominent figure in boxing.
According to records, St. Anthony’s College started rugby in the 1950s with Bruce Winter as their first rugby captain. A big hand should go to Old Trinitian Bobby Jayaweera, the man who taught them how to handle a rugger ball and later Maurice Perera put the final touches to the Antonian rugby team.
Tuan played for the Outstation schools and combined schools team; He was a top class fly half, and good in drop kicking and goal kicking. He displayed good leadership and was a polished and crafty player. He started his rugby career from under-12 level and ended up as one of the best products of St. Anthony’s rugby.
It was under his leadership that St. Anthony’s had a very successful season and ended up as unofficial champions. In that memorable 1972 team there were the Rajaguru brothers DH and Ananda, Tyrone Rosario, Clement Fernando, ChristopherAnderson, Clive Fernando, Hilmy Jainudeen, CPP Raj, Dayananda de Silva, Nimal Malagamuwa, J M Waidyaratne, S. Shanmuganathan, Geoff Paul, Ian Ludowyke and Kalu Perera. After that successful season they toured India and one of the men behind their success was their MIC Fr. Aelred. Samarakoon along with the school principal Fr. Steven Abrahams, one of the best principals the school had.
As a schoolboy Tuan Dole played for the President’s XV against the London Welsh which had legendary players like John Spencer, David Llewellyn, John Dawes and Mervyn Davies. Later played for Kandy SC as a schoolboy and crossed over to Havelock SC. Later took to tea planting and played for Dickoya MCC, Dimbula ACCand Up Country and was well known for his fine goal-kicking and dummies and managed several Sri Lanka teams on overseas tours. After chucking up planting he returned to Kandy SC and played a few games and later served the Committee. He was involved with Central Province Rugby Football Union and was President and also was at one time president of the Nuwara Eliya District Cricket Association, Central Province Cricket Association and at present a committee member of the Kandy DCA.
In rugby he handled the whistle and also was match commissioner and one time in the committee of Sri Lanka Rugby. At his alma mater he has been the President of the Old Boys Association and the Old Antonian's Rugby Club. He was also at one time Vice President of the Kandy District Cricket Association and President of the Dimbulla A and CC.,
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