Bradby winning coach Dushanth Lewke who led Royal to their third consecutive league triumph has taken over the reins as head coach of CR and FC.
The former Royal number eight who captained CR and Sri Lanka has taken up the challenge of resurrecting the fortunes of his former club.
“The advantage is I will be working with developed players rather than trying to develop players. That’s the main transition,” said Lewke on his new responsibility.
“I think it will be pretty much the same. I think the school competition is way more competitive than club. The school tournament is tough to win. It is very competitive. Anyone of the top eight teams can beat other teams. In club, three or four team will compete for the title. Still that competition will be there,” said Lewke who coached Sri Lanka under 19 last year.. He won’t be new to the coaching staff at CR and FC, having been their strength and conditioning coach for the past three years.
“If you see our history we’ve had a coach every year. You need to have that bonding. Coaches need to build side over the years. We’ve all had very good reasons as to why we changed the coach,” said CR and FC president Sriyan Cooray.
“He knows our players and has a good understanding of talent,” added Cooray. “I think it is a very big challenge. CR has a good side. Some of the key players have left but they have a good group of young junior players. So if they work hard obviously they can achieve something,” said Lewke who confirmed that three Royal stars have signed up with more from other schools to follow at the end of the season.
Royal skipper and centre three quarter Thulaib Hassen, fly half Kalindu Nandila and lock forward Fadhil Hassan have joined CR and FC who began the season on a promising note emerging runners-up to Kandy SC in the inter-club sevens.
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