Benedict opts to stick to his guns

“The Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge can take whatever decision he wants. But I will not rescind my resignation as Chairman of Selectors of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU),” said Anton Benedict in an interview with The Sunday Times.

This follows the ministers’ decision to include four of the five players who went to witness the finals of the Rugby World Cup in France. Thereby missing out on training for the final Rugby Asiad which kicked off at the CR and FC grounds yesterday. For the record the fifth player who went for the World Cup namely Sean Wijesinghe is injured.

“Don’t get me wrong. I wish the team all the very best at the Asiad and I am hoping Sri Lanka goes on win the tournament, after this good start. I have been the national coach. But I must say this bunch have loads of talent. I am not holding a grudge against any of the four players who went or the minister. The minister basically took the popular decision. But he cannot have the cake and eat it. I made my position clear from the beginning. As for the players, on a personal level I like all of them. But they went against a direct order issued by the selectors. So you tell me where do you draw the line?”

Benedict added: “The President of the SLRFU Nimal Lewke is a friend of mine. When this issue started coming to a head I told him he was treading on dangerous ground. When I was President a similar issue arose. But I stated that the Union could not get involved because the selectors were an independent body though they come under the Union. At the end of the day various dubious attendance figures were given to the minister and he took a decision which on principle I cannot agree with.”

‘Rugby is about discipline and commitment and most of all is a team game. To wear the national jersey is what every ruggerite aspires to. It is not possible for four players to be given individual training schedules when an international tournament is just weeks away. Even when it came to the captaincy there was controversy. A senior Union member condemned the selection of Jeewa Galgamuwa as the skipper in front of the minister. However the minister saw the logic in what I was saying went ahead with our choice of the Captain. This is the low that rugby has descended to,” said Benedict in conclusion.