To some the truth hurts
I have carried a lone crusade against corruption and mismanagement in football administration in this country for a number of years, both within and without national association. I must express my sincere appreciation and my undiluted regards and respect to the Wijeya Publication news papers, for giving me space through its columns’ to both express my views freely and expose the magnitude of corruption and abuse of power and position so rampant in our soccer administration. While I am deeply indebted to the Sunday Times sports for its unfettered commitment to rid sport of this social malaise. I must appreciate the equally forthright comments of the Daily Mirrors sports’ on the same subject.
At times, I feel writing to those who are with thick skin and to those who do not care a damn – to the sport and country is a waste of time and energy. In view of the appreciations received through telephone calls, sms messages and letters from the soccer loving public, past players and my students here and abroad, encourages me to highlight without prejudice whatsoever the sate of our football which is a pampered sport in Sri Lanka.
I must be frank that I carry no anger wrath, remorse, revenge or the remotest ill-feeling against any individual. I don’t belong to any political party or opposition groups against football administrators. My only concern and consideration for the sport I love and the country I represented, that cannot be left for its exploitation by a few. The truth will obviously hurt those guilty, but the truth must be told. One has only to look around to see clearly, who have enriched themselves, who have helped their kith and kin, friends and associates, who have globe trotted, all in the name of football.
Coming from a family of foursome brothers who shed sweat and blood to the country in the field of soccer for over 35 years, as one who represented Sri Lanka for over a decade, captained and coached the National Football teams here and abroad in various international competitions. I am in an unbiased position to make relevant comments with regard to our football administration. I have applauded the good work on many occasions and criticized short comings in the same breadth. It is always good for the sport if the comments and criticism is taken as a mode of advice and assistance, a rather than be proud, stubborn and arrogant. The administrators must be humble enough to change their attitude to develop the standard of football or leave room to those who could give a new lease of life for the sport.
One need not possess a Socrates brain to realize that we have stagnated at truly international level for decades. A good example is the recently concluded Pre-Olympic tournament held in Saudi Arabia where our team conceded 17 goals, scored only one goal against our opponents, not winning a single encounter. Couple of weeks ago, I witness an inter school cup final played by two leading schools in Colombo. It is sad and disappointing to observe that both teams failed to display the basic skill in football, such as shooting, passing, ball controlling, and heading. These players are between the age of 16 to 19. In 1960’s when we represented our college 1st XI team, we used to play practice matches with top clubs in the caliber of Saunders, Sunrise, Kollupitiya United, Old Joes, Police, Colombo Municipality, Old Bens and to name a few. One could imagine the high standards maintained in schools during that period.
The greatest drawback for the growth and development of football as a national sport in Sri Lanka and as a serious contender in the Asian Circuit, is the absence of a meaningful collegiate football promotional programme. One need not have a super-natural brain to understand the logic behind the argument, yet the Controlling Body has not implemented the least emphasis in this aspect.
Ironically, school football dates back well over 100 years, much before a national body for football was formed. Hence it would have been just a matter of extending the sport to most schools in the country. Since no ground work was required by the National Controlling Body, it is only a matter to continue with the 600 schools football development programme which was introduced by me as a Director of youth development in the year 2000, which was commended by AFC and FIFA. Only an understanding of the importance of the subject and an unflagging commitment to the cause is necessary. Sadly it was not to be and the sport is exploited by the so called football promoters, who are receiving high salaries for warming their chairs in the Football House.
On the few occasions I was involved in the policy making body of the Football Federation. I did honestly made every effort to channel the thinking of my colleagues to matters of technical importance. In fact, I have submitted a volume of memoranda listing and detailing the promotion and technical development of the game, particularly in the schools and clubs. Either they were ignorant or not interested to strive on this importance aspects of the sport. It is disappointing to note in recent times that not much head way has been made technically or organizationally to improve the playing standards of the game or its promotion as a truly national sport.Yet what have the authorities responsible for the country’s sport done? Have they identified what, where and why we have failed. Our national football teams to the last two decades have been one and the same, lot living of failure. The successive governments too have failed to take appropriate action against those who have made football a living. The incumbent Hon. Minister of sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage, when took over office made some bold allegations and statements regarding Sri Lanka Football in and out of the Parliament with news flashes such as – lethargic attitude of football officials in the Federation has dragged the sport into a pathetic situation, the director rule in the FFSL will have to be demolished, FFSL officials drawing high salaries not properly channeling the funds for the development of the game, will take drastic action against FFSL officials if they fail to improve the standards of football, if there is no vivid changes I may have to wield the axe and n interim committee was not out of equation, new sport law and national sports policy will be introduced and so on, which gave the soccer loving public of this country some hope that he will put football in the right place, it deserved to be. Unfortunately nothing much as happened except the top brass of the Football Federation awarded the Best League Trophy to Nawalapitiya – the electorate the Honorable Sports Minister represent and also conducted the F.A. Cup Final Nawalapitiya. Isn’t it a hoodwink?
Mr. Minister the whole country is watching you with patient and high hopes, that you will do something constructive and sensible to put football in the write track. We have over 4000 schools in the island but not more than 8% of them play competitive football. If nurseries are not created how we are going to produce our future national caps? Is it under a top hat of magician? For the last decade or more football in school was managed by an opportunist few. We should with the help of the Ministry of Education, create district schools football associations and promote the game in a serious way is being done in school cricket.
Use of influence in any form should never be encouraged for its bad in essence and bad in taste. There is much more than the eye could see, and the Minister is helpless is my fear. Let me conclude with this quote from Henry Ward Beecher “The humblest individual exerts some influence, either for good or evil upon others”.
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