Spiritual godfather of cricketers passes away

Fr. Stephan Abraham

Charismatic clergyman, Rev Fr. Stephan Abraham who was the rector of St. Anthony’s College at Katugastota, a school that produced many a cricketer, passed away last Saturday.

Fr. Stephan passed away on the same day that the iconic mentor of cricketers at the same school Sunil Perera, the coach of the legendary cricketer Muttiah Muralidaran, died.

Fr. Stephan was a household name not just in Kandy but the entire country and was known for his promotion of sportsmen during an era when sport was devoid of politics, squabbles and financial benefits.

Muralidaran, the world’s leading wicket taker of 800 Test scalps, all-rounder Ruwan Kalpage and left arm spinner Piyal Wijetunga were Antonian students when Fr. Stephan was at the helm of the school in the 1980s and ‘90s.

Interestingly Muralidaran, Kaplage and Wijetunga played together on a unique occasion at a Test match against South Africa in Moratuwa in 1993.

Leadership was a hallmark of Fr. Stephan who was also a no-nonsense strict disciplinarian.