A memoir of a Sri Lankan hockey legend

Dennis as he is fondly called and known in hockey circles, is no ordinary sportsman. One dedicated to the game with a sense of perfectionism. Dennis who excelled with the stick by serving his country, captaining his college and representing clubs, did also blow the whistle, coached with passion, administered and promoted the game and dedicated his professional knowledge in collating and maintaining records of the history of the game in the country. From stick to the pen. Such are rare personalities.

A legend by no means in the field of hockey in Sri Lanka, he has dedicated a lifetime to the sport he so cherished. A strong believer of performance with integrity.

As quoted by Past Patron of the Mercantile Hockey Association Mr. Hemaka Amarasuriya: “If ever an individual committed, so much of his life and times to one activity, to one sport, it is Dennis De Rosayro.”

On Saturday the February 13 the book – ‘Just call me DENNIS’- a retrospective on hockey in Sri Lanka will be launched at the BRC, Havelock Park, organised by the Mercantile Hockey Association (MHA).

The first book of its kind on Sri Lanka hockey, it provides readers with some in depth history of hockey in Sri Lanka, twisted with hockey anecdotes to indulge in interesting reading. The book about Dennis and his lifetime in tandem captures periods the time the game was held in high esteem in the country and its formal administration to its current status. Sri Lanka having once enjoyed the position of third challenger in the Asian region to India and Pakistan was an indomitable force. Of course, the course of the game has changed with time. However, India and Pakistan continue their challenging positions in the world.

The book captures the interesting feats of hockey greats and wizards of the sticks in a pictorial story. Of pursuits on the turf against immortal legends like Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh and Leslie Claudias. It also consists of records on Sri Lanka games with Olympic teams and the Asian circuit. The inaugural Hockey Nationals and its history to date is useful material for the future custodians of the game in the country.

Says Dennis: “I wish to a leave a legacy for the nation on which future building blocks could be explicitly planned to bring back the glory of the game once enjoyed as a nation and slot Sri Lanka back as a challenger once more.”

His involvement with the game did not end when he retired as a competitive player, instead he continued to coach and or manage the BRC, MHA, CHA and Sri Lanka teams. Dennis’ goal was to give back to the sport he loved so much. Numerous students have attested that Dennis has shaped their work ethic. His life and work were an example to the youngsters, many of whom would go on to achieve great things.

An excerpt from the book relates an interesting story of the Ceylon Hockey Association team (then the governing body for hockey), on their tour to India. A crack side, theteam comprised greats such as Freddie White, A. Mylvaganam, Tony Adahan, Dennis de Rosayro, D.D. Abeysekera (Corky), A. Hettiarachchi, L. Rayen, Rienzie Perera, R.S. Somesekaran, Douglas Wijekoon and G.H. Jayatissa. Due to the team’s impressive performance the tour was extended for a further 12 days on the invitation and sponsorship of the Wealthy Punjab Farmers Association.

Having retired as Shipping Manager after a 40-year stint with Heath and Company, Dennis also served with the Janashakthi Group and into full retirement from Idac (Pvt) Ltd.

Double International, Chandra Schaffter in his message, states: “There is nobody connected with the game of hockey as I have known it over the past 60 years who contributed more towards this than my friend Dennis De Rosayro. Dennis rose high in the ranks of club hockey players and is one to be respected.”

Dennis was the first captain of hockey at St Benedict’s College in 1954. He played for BRC from 1954 to 1978 and All-Ceylon as a schoolboy against the Indian Olympic team in 1960 and against Pakistan in 1961, having represented Ceylon before in 1955. He was also a member of the Colombo Malay Cricket Club hockey team that toured South India, the first overseas hockey tour by a club in 1971 which comprised of some hockey greats.

He represented Sri Lanka in the Corera Cup, which was virtually an annual tournament between Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Bangalore states. This was the level of Sri Lanka hockey then.

During Sri Lanka’s historical tour between December 1959 and February 1960 to South and North India, ‘Dhayan Chand’, famously known as the ‘best ever player’, and his equally famed younger brother ‘Roop Singh’, came out of retirement to play for Jhanshi District Hockey Association. Their match against Ceylon drew over 10,000 fans. The Ceylon captain Mylvaganam magnanimously asked Dennis to toss the coin and play centre half in the match, which ended in a nil-all draw. After the match Dhayan ranked Ceylon about No. 05, in the world after India. Pakistan, East Germany and Holland, along with England and Malaysia and some continental countries.

Though often overshadowed by games such as cricket and rugby, hockey has still been a popular sport in Sri Lanka for decades, with a number of schools, local clubs, the Mercantile sector and the services, playing the sport both by men and women. The Sri Lankan national field hockey team is now ranked the fourth best in the South Asian region. In 2016, Sri Lanka made history by qualifying at the finals in the Asian Hockey Federation Cup, where they won silver. In 2018, Sri Lanka managed to qualify for the Asian Games in the men’s team event.

A doyen of the sport, 83-year-old Dennis was the Past President of the Mercantile HA from 1978 to 2007 and is still going strong. He currently serves as the Patron of the Burgher Recreation Club and an Honorary Life Member of the Mercantile Hockey Association. The book is a chronicle of Dennis’ journey of triumphs, pitfalls and challenges. A legend of Sri Lanka hockey.