Two captains and other anecdotes

Sports

A Senior Corporate Executive asked me “What’s happening to rugby?” Who is right and who is wrong was another question he asked. This big man in the world of commerce was not the hard rugby type. Not the one you would expect to see at a rugby club and or rugby matches per se. He is one of those who follow, sport and to whom rugby has been an interest among others. He also laughed merrily and asked about there being two captains. These questions are asked not by one but by many who are followers of the game most of whom not those who move from one ground to another and are prejudiced. They are asked by lovers of sport and followers of Rugby.

I ask why worry about two? I will make all fifteen captains as we try to get the better of them. The catch however is that there should be only one leader among all the captains whether it is two or more. Rugby in Sri Lanka has come to the end of the year 2008 and it may be time to look back and reflect on what has taken place. The questions that are asked are based on the reputation that has been built and which seems now to be more or less a joke.

Sri Lanka played under two captains in their last outing

This time of the year it’s a time of goodwill and to give gifts and recognize those who need to be mentioned in the spirit of the season of cheer. It is the time to recognize people for one reason or another. Then when we talk of rugby it is other questions that loom over our head. If we are to give awards for rugby what have we got? My awards go to.

To digress from the issue of recognition I happened to be at the launch of a rugby academy. Reputations as a player, iron man, wonder boy of rugby is what Hisham Abdeen has to offer as he presented his case with the launch of the Hisham Abdeen Rugby Academy last week... Stalwarts from the playing era of Abdeen as well as other enthusiasts had a lot of tales to narrate and present to the rugby community. A sentiment that was expressed by those who mattered in delivering speeches was the need to promote the rugby spirit as intended while the technical aspects are taught. I believe that Hisham has the qualities necessary to stress on playing the game hard and not rough as he always did it that way.

Reputation is the opinion of the public toward a person, a group of people or an organization .With Hisham what goes is that image that was built the time he played . Going back to what I stated in my opening paragraph it does bring into focus the opinion formed in the minds of the people about rugby in Sri Lanka. Reputation it has is now been centered on what has been happening around us in the recent past and that which has received wide publicity. That is what is remembered at present and that is what people talk of about rugby 2008. The talk is not about how the game was fostered and promoted during the year 2008. It is not about Kandy being winners of the major tournament closely followed by CR an FC. It is not about two Sri Lankan who were Assistant Referees at the recently concluded Dubai Sevens and who may do the same job in the Sevens Rugby World Cup to be played in Dubai early 2009. It is not what we did or did not at the Asian 5 Nations division 2 tournament.

What is remembered and asked is not what you want to promote but what you have built to dent an image. They talk of pull out of a group of players from national practices. They gossip about removal from office of the national selectors. They mock about the selectors, who were subsequently appointed and resigned. They make fun of that great decision to appoint two captains. The nausea that goes along is more disgusting than the throw up by a drunkard in a rugby premise. So what are my awards for rugby for the year 2008? First it is the team of the year. That goes to all those who rallied around to make all the unnecessary washing of dirty linen in public.

The next award is for the player of the year. That is the decision maker who in the great wisdom decided on two captains. Other awards that have yet not been finalized include the Unsung Hero, the Most Exciting Newcomer, the Greatest Comeback and the Biggest Flop of the Year. Nominations are now open and you may send in yours.

= Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB

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