Friday 30th June, 2006 11

tournament, they will have to by Gamini Perera wait till the tournament reaches the national stage, is skills, where it will be played at the charm and Sugathadasa Indoor stadium. Hextrava- gant lifestyle The President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Tournament which attracted some of President’s sprang into life last years, the most beautiful after a lapse of five years, will women of his see Dialog Telekom sponsor- times, including ing for the second consecutive Majorie Wallace, year. Miss World 1973. The tournament will fea- He eventully ture more than 500 teams and married Angie, a it will commence with the Bunny Girl and official opening ceremony at model and Tangalle on July 1. fathered a son, Gold Cup VB The tournament will be Calum, but the conducted in three stages. District level matches will be Jaguar-saloon, conducted at 19 venues begin- south of France ning July 1 and the provincial lifestyle, just did level tournament will be not match with the worked off at eight centres day-to–day grind from July 8-10. The final will of professional be played at the Sugathadasa football and it soon Stadium. became a vicious from July 1 While the winners of each circle. preliminary level tournament Whether it was (District, Provincial) will by Reemus Fernando so far. pated that the SA Games will Games. the nightlife and receive the Dialog Challenge The outspoken president be held in April. And prepa- Meanwhile, the President’s alcohol that dimin- Trophy plus cash awards, the Dilan Perera, President, Sri said that the postponement of rations were underway long Gold Cup Volleyball runners-up of each tourna- ished his skills or Lanka Volleyball Federation, the tournament to August has before April. The postpone- Tournament, which provides ment will also receive cash whether he hit the expressed confidence that the given ample time for the play- ment has given extra time for an opportunity for local teams awards. bottle because his spikers – both men and ers to be fine tuned. He said our players to be fine tuned,” to compete at national level, The winner of the final will skills were deterio- women – who are now under- this at a press conference to he said. will be the major volleyball be awarded Rs. 100,000 and rating is still a puz- going intense training at resi- announce the commencement It was also disclosed that tournament to held here the first runner-up will get a dential camps will win gold of the Kit President’s Gold the volleyball teams (men’s before the SA Games. Though zle that is big as cash award of 40,000 and the medals at the forthcoming Cup Volleyball Tournament. and women’s) are to tour national players are allowed any of the ironies THE LATE runner-up trophy. The second South Asian Games, a feat “We probably were the Vietnam for an international to flex their muscles repre- in George Best’s runner-up will receive Rs. which has not been achieved only federation to have antici- tournament prior to the SA senting their teams at the life. 25,000. There were times when he missed practices for weeks on end George Best: and went on a drinking binge. Best at his best The greatest It was a pity that Northern Ireland did not qualify for the World Cup finals when Best player never in was at his peak. For that was the right kind of stage for a man of his tal- ents and maybe if a World Cup he had earned world acclaim, The winner of the 8 Ball Pool tournament M. M. Mubeen The winner of the Snooker Championship, H. A. Deen The winners (Standing L/R): M. M. Mubeen (8 Ball), H. A. then the slide receives the champions trophy and a cash award of Rs. receives his trophy and a cash award of Rs. 10,000 from Deen (Snooker), M. Samsudeen (Manager Embassy Pool would not have come at the skills of the ‘wonder 15.000 from the chief guest, Hafiz Naseer Ahamed. the guest of honour, S. M. Zulfikar. Parlour) and Mohammed Rosan. all. boy’ from . After leaving Best had everything Manchester United, Best that a coach would dream played for Fulham and of in a footballer. His close Embassy 8 Ball Pool and Snooker Championship then crossed the Atlantic control extraordinary, his to play in the North dribbling was magic, Test and Pix by M. Farook Lantra (Pvt) Ltd. The chief guest was Hafiz 2nd place: Gamini Devapriya Snooker Championship American Football body feints and swerves The first anniversary of the Naseer Ahamed (Advisor to the Trophy and cash award of Rs. Champion: H. A. Deen Trophy and League, for Los Angeles were breathtaking and his Embassy Pool Parlour tournament president and chairman, Perfect 10,000 (Embassy Pool Parlour Club). cash award of Rs. 10,000. Aztacs and Fort acceleration and turn of (8 Ball Pool and Snooker Digital Imaging Services (Pvt) Ltd. 3rd place: T. H. D. C. Silva Trophy 2nd place: Mohammed Roshan speed would have done a Championship) was held at the Winners:: and cash award of Rs. 7,500 (Solid Trophy and a cash award of Rs. Lauderdale. Embassy Pool Parlour, Colombo, 8 Ball Pool Championship Sports Club) 5000/. But the problems per- proud. recently. Champion: M. M. Mubeen Trophy 4th place: D. M. C. L. Dampitiya 3rd place: M. M.. Mubeen Trophy sisted. He enjoyed his rel- Manchester United too The tournament was sponsored and cash award of Rs. 15,000 Trophy and cash award of Rs. 3,500 Highest Break: Mohammed Roshan ative anonymity in the had the best of everything by Perfect Digital Imaging Services (Embassy Pool Parlour Club). (Spot Pool Parlour, Maharagama). who scored 36 points (trophy only). states, but just could not so long as Best was at his kick his drink problems. peak. United won the League Championship in Seventeen day bender 1965 and 1967. In 1968, In one bizarre week in United became the first 1982, in fact, he went on a English team to win the Asian market may not interest West Indies 17–day bender. European Cup. The power of alcohol And Best was the by Philip Spooner switched to Malaysia or Ken Gordon, WICB presi- not likely to interest the year, after the World Cup. over mankind is unques- English and European Singapore. The proposed dent, Niranjan Shah, the WICB as the regional plan- tionable, due to its power “Footballer of the Year”, dates were between August BCCI secretary, and other ners were hoping to capi- "We've suggested alterna- The West Indies Cricket to stimulate the mystical in 1968. He was United’s Board's (WICB) plan to gar- and September. senior officials from both talise on the lucrative tives for September. If the faculties of human nature, top scorer with 28 goals – ner funds this year from an sides met in New York earli- American market which WICB remains intent on a rare achievement for a "While we're hopeful, I er this month. On that occa- has large West Indian and usually crash to earth by unusual location to ease its North America, then the winger. fear the United States won't sion Gordon said that there Indian expatriate communi- the cold feats and dry crit- US$25 million debt burden three ODIs are going to be may not materialise. That's be in a position to have two was uncertainty over the ties. If this year is not feasi- icisms of the sober hour, played next year," Bindra Better than Pele because the cricket grounds grounds ready by quality of the facilities in ble, the two boards will wrote William Jones, a added. "The status should in the United States which September," IS Bindra, a the United States. Back hope to develop the facili- long time ago. , Best’s be clear within a fortnight." were being considered to member of the BCCI's mar- then, he promised that a ties and the new window of And Best’s problem of team mate once wrote: (Daily Nation) stage a three-match ODI keting committee, told The decision on the series would opportunity would be next one who had played some “Best should and could series between West Indies Telegraph. "We've been have been reached by of the most electrifying have been the greatest looking at Florida, New June 16. Efforts to and India, are not up to football, was that he player of all time; even York, and New Jersey.We've reach him since then international standard and wanted celebrity status better than Pele.” would have to pass ICC given that [Singapore / were unsuccessful and Danny Blanchflower, Kuala Lumpur] option to other members of the without the pressures that inspection. one of the greatest to play the West Indies. In fact, WICB said they were came with it. in the English League, The Board for Cricket we've even suggested the unaware of any devel- This, he could never was one of George Best’s Control in India (BCCI) pro- matches could be played in opments. quite achieve. posed that the matches be Europe." Essentially, the story of greatest admirers who The move to Asia is George Best is the story of said: “Basically Best made what could have been. a greater appeal to the Stone ‘N’ String joins SAG team senses than the other two His debut - Finney and Mathews - George Best made his who were also great debut against West wingers. Best’s move- Bromwich at Old Trafford ments are quicker, lighter, in September 1963 when with more ballet in it. He he was 17 years old. He offers the greater surprise first played for Northern to the mind and eye!” Ireland against Wales in In short, George Best April the following year. had the best of everything Soon, he became a cult except for the failure to The All-Island Under-18 Milo Rugby tournament Plate trophy was figure. Even people who play for England in the Stone ‘N’ String has been appointed as the exclusive licensee for souvenirs for the 10th South Asian won by Science College, Mt. Lavinia. The captain of the team, Dilruk had never cared to visit a prestigious World Cup – Games which will be held from August 18 to 28, 2006 in Colombo. Administrative Director Ali Sabry said Banuka receives the trophy from Western Province Schools Rugby football stadium flocked the dream of every great that this is the first time that Stone ‘N’ String has got exclusive rights for such an event. He added that all President and Principal of Isipatana College, K. A. D. Punyadasa. footballer on planet earth! merchandise will be manufactured locally, and will carry the Stone ‘N’ String brand name. to Old Trafford to savour