MHA has given the most stickers to the national team

Leslie FERNANDO

The Mercantile Hockey Association has produced the most number of stickers to represent Sri Lanka here and abroad in major international encounters. MHA also had the rare honour of defeating several top teams from abroad.

First ever Mercantile Hockey team tour of South India in 1956. Last row (from left) - R. Mahmoor, Rienzie Perera, D. Henricus, K. Sampanthan. (Centre row) P. Wright, T. Adhan, Dennis de Rosayro, A.D. Costa, C. de Silva, Denzil Perera. Seated (from left) Ivan de Krester, V.G. Prins, Hugh Aldons (Captain), A.E.de. S. Wickrematilleke (Manager), V.S. De Krester, C.T.A. Schaffter.

H.C. Aldons (Dunlop), M. Anthony (Baurs), W.F. de Zylva (Wallys), V.G. Prins (Bosanuets) and K. Ariyapala (Commercials) were the first five players to make their international debuts against India in 1947.

In 1956 the first ever Mercantile hockey team toured South India, Madras and Bangalore and was the first team to register a victory on foreign soil.

That historic team was Hugh Aldons (Captain), V.G. Prins (Vice Captain), Ivan de Krester, C.T. Schaffter, Dennis de Rosayro, A.D. Costa, T. Adahan, P. Wright, K. Sampanthan, Denzil Perera, Chandra Silva, D. Henricus, Rienzie Perera, H. Mahamoor.

In 1960, the Mercantile Hockey Association had the unique distinction of winning the Donavan Andree Memorial Tournament by defeating the strong Southern Railway XI 1-nil, that being the first occasion that a visiting team was beaten in Ceylon.

Another record was added to MHA achievements when in 1965 defeating Indonesia, thus gaining the honour of being the first association to beat a visiting national side.

As national champions in 1980, MHA played a match against the Pakistan Services hockey team at the Army grounds and won by three goals to one. This was their only defeat on tour having beaten the Sri Lanka team too. In 1980, Mercantile HA was invited to participate in India's foremost Nerhu Hockey Tournament. MHA were the first ever team from Sri Lanka to be seeded into the final round.

In November 1989 MHA veterans were the first team to tour Singapore and Malaysia and again in 1992 toured the same two countries. In July 1995, played against Border Security Force, the Nehru champions and MHA were beaten 5-0 which was greatly due to absence of two vital players due to injury.

After a lapse of 40 years in 1997 MHA toured South India. Very old friendships were renewed and new ones established both at Bangalore and Chennai.

The first ever MHA 35-45 team toured Ipoh and Penang, Malaysia captained by B.M.R. Preena of Unilevers in November 2000.

Throughout the years Mercantile HA players and officials have been well represented in Sri Lanka Hockey Federation teams, selected for tours abroad and matches played at home. On the administrative side, MHA have ably assisted the SLHF in all aspects of the game and its promotion.

Mercantile Hockey Association has emerged national champions on 15 times since the first nationals in 1956.