Rugby’s Hetara beeri kathawa

What happened to Willie Hetaraka the National Coach? Missing and uncontactable despite the contract as the story is told and retold. The authorities are no doubt in a quandary as they prepared for the Asiad scheduled to commence on the 17th of November. Sri Lanka had set their sights on being among the first five in Asia by the end of 2006. All plans are now in disarray with the team having to delay the start of its preparation for the Asiad.

Hopefully things will work out as “Laga” takes over to get the team in shape for the games. Laga is no stranger to the local scene and has been a successful coach guiding the Kandy Sports Club to achieve the status of being the best in the country. Yet the story of Willie will continue in the next few days and will be the topic of discussion. The questions that may be raised and discussed will be many. Chief among them will be the speculation about the absence of Willie and also why Laga was not appointed in the first instance. These will have to take a second seat for the time being and focus should be to get the team in shape. Answers to the questions will have to be found in the future and corrected as we aim to be among the best in Asia in the coming years.

While the performance of the National Team is at the top of the list there are other issues causing concern with regard to the tournament. Chief among then is the unease of teams such as Japan about the security situation. The Union has its hands full as the day for the Asiad gets closer.

Sri Lanka is to play in the opening match scheduled for the 18th of November against India. This should not be a problem for the national side. They then will have to play on the 20th the winners of the game Kazakasthan vs Thailand. This to Sri Lanka will be an important match as they then will move into the Final of the Plate. The passage seems easy.

Being the host country, and having the advantage of the draw, has given Sri Lanka an opportunity they cannot afford to miss. This administration should have been aware of. It is in this sense that we have to ask ourselves whether we were serious in our approach to attain the objective set. The issue of the National Coach being not available arose subsequent to the decision of teams to fly out to Bangkok to play in the less important Rugby 80. Was this an event that was to push Sri Lanka Rugby ahead in the road map and was it more important than the national event are questions that need answers as those involved in taking teams out are those at the core administration of the Union. These are the same people who set the milestones to be achieved at the last congress. Setting the priorities are elementary to success. While the squads that took wing to Thailand comprised a number of pool players, news is also of another club team which includes national players expected to take off.

This event is also expected to be one of the biggest sporting events in Sri Lanka where team involvement is concerned and as an event it will be only second to the ICC Champions Trophy held in Sri Lanka in 2002.

Hopefully all the irritants will be put aside and progress reached in the coming days and the Sri Lankan team as well as the Asiad will enjoy the success they seek. Remember if the current system of rotation continues Sri Lanka will not be able to host this event for at least another 50 years.