Air Force target top-four finish

The Air Force rugby squad

Air Force Sports Club is eyeing a top-four finish ahead of the inter club league rugby tournament which gets underway on Friday and play their first match against Army Sports Club at Ratmalana on the following day. 

Air Force head coach Asela Deshapriya believes that his team should target a top-four finish in the league competition. 

“Our main target is to finish within the top four. With the hard work put in during pre-season and the quality within our squad, we believe we can achieve that goal,” he told the Daily Mirror in an interview. 

Air Force will be led by senior forward Saraka Warella while Shamika Kaushan and Pramod Padmasanka will be his deputies. 

Air Force were dealt a major blow losing their three-quarter player Dabare which could be a concern for them going into the season. But they have signed up a number of school leavers to strengthen their squad including Rasindu Bandara, Thenula de Silva Yerash Bummed all from DS Senanayake College, S. Ryan and Senal Lithira both from St. Peter’s College and Dasun Nimsara from Thurstan College.

Despite losing Dabare, Deshapriya is confident of his squad. “We have a well-balanced side with a good mix of experienced and young players. The forwards are strong and disciplined, while the backline is fast and creative, giving us good balance in attack and defence. 

“Among the Forwards, Saraka Werella, Shamika Kaushan, and Shashika Fernando are key players to watch this season. In the Backs, Ishara Madushan, Pramod Padmashanka, Kalana Chamuditha and Gayantha Iddamalgoda have shown great form and potential to make a real impact,” revealed Deshapriya. 

Air Force have traditionally enjoyed home advantage at Ratmalana with a strong wind blowing across the field and Deshapriya contends it will be another challenge for teams.

“The Air Force ground is known for its strong winds, which can be quite challenging for visiting teams to handle. It can affect the kicking game and overall tactics. However, the conditions can challenge both sides depending on the direction and intensity of the wind,” he said. 

Deshapriya is also pleased with their preparation for the coming season. “We had a well-structured pre-season training programme, focusing on both physical conditioning and mental preparation. The players have trained hard and are now in excellent shape, physically strong and mentally focused. We’re confident and looking forward to a competitive and successful season,” he assured.