My Attention is drawn to an article in your sports page on the 18th of November 2012 under the caption “Is Football a second class citizen?” I really appreciate the far-sighted analytical mind of the soccer loving crowd who has made some valuable comment about football, which should be an eye-opener for those who are [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Our footballers – no orphans!

By: Subhani Hassimdeen - Former National Football Captain and National Coach
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My Attention is drawn to an article in your sports page on the 18th of November 2012 under the caption “Is Football a second class

If one asks what is really wrong with our football, the answer will be there’s nothing wrong with it other than administrators’ lapses - File Pic

citizen?”

I really appreciate the far-sighted analytical mind of the soccer loving crowd who has made some valuable comment about football, which should be an eye-opener for those who are in the Football House.

Football is the most popular game and the world’s favourite sports. It is a sport with a long and colourful history. It is a game so easy to understand and easy to play, less time consuming and less expensive. A game played by over 200 million people in 208 countries throughout the world.

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on earth. The 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, drew nearly three million spectators to the 64 matches played and a cumulative television audience of nearly 3˝ billion — half of the world population, although, Sri Lanka football is carrying its famous tag – as the poor man’s sport.

From the above facts and figures its clear that football is the most popular sports on earth which has made footballers millionaires all over the world. Christiani Ronaldo, who was awarded the Best Players award at the 2010 World Cup competition, is the highest paid footballer, receiving 80 million pounds for a season.

No other known discipline in the field of human recreation has an equal to football and it shall be so as long as man remains the domineering element on earth.

Referring to the article which appeared in the Daily Mirror Sports of 22.11.2012, under the caption – “Miracles move – to resurrect football”. The Minister of Sports who is aware about the past history of Sri Lanka football has come forward with some valuable proposals to develop football, is indeed, appreciable and praiseworthy.

Knowing the present soccer administrators very well, who have a deferent style and approach towards football, I have my doubt whether they will give their cooperation and support to the Minister to achieve his objectives.

The game of football in Sri Lanka is not a private asset of any individual or group. Either it belongs to any community or area. It is not a poor – man’s game or a second class citizen as some people think. The main drawback or stumbling block for its development and popularity is the exploitation by least competent in the game.

If one asks me what is really wrong with our football? My answer will be there’s nothing wrong with it. It is the administrators’ lapses and exploitation has pushed the sport to this pathetic situation. From the late seventies we have had nothing but square pegs in round holes at the top, centre and bottom of the administration which has dragged us to the bottom of the barrel.

Evidence clearly indicates that top officials in the Football Controlling Body are men without an inkling of technical or competence; some may even not have kicked a football properly. Business tycoons, and other professionals, men who are sadly ignorant of the sport who serve have virtually ruined our football standards. Wittingly or otherwise they have damaged the base and all that others have so tirelessly built over the years. We could have held back the tears if we had a dearth if men with both vision and technical competence, but sad and disappointing it is not so.

There are enough such competent and knowledgeable men even now all over the country who could render a valuable service, of course, if only these men are chosen and called open to deliver the goods.

Drastic and immediate remedies are essential to resurrect and revive Sri Lanka’s football from the dismal abyss into which it has fallen in the last decade or more.

My first proposal is the immediate dismissal of the administrators of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka who have failed to produce the goods, retaining only a few who are technically competent and expertise and who have at heart the promotion and development of the game throughout the country.

The revival of dormant, dying or dead outstation leagues, which have to be made the nucleus or nursery of soccer, is another. There is an urgent need to have technical expertise at every level in the thinking and planning stages. For this a uniform calendar of domestic competitions for all leagues, club and school had to be implemented without delay. A serious study of school football is an urgent must.

The FFSL should also seek assistance of the Ministry of Education and persuade the latter to make soccer a compulsory sport in every school in the country.

Senior coaches, referees and few international players should be invited to form an Advisory body to propose a broad based national technical development program for the promotion, development and raising the standard of the game.

We should with the help of the Ministry of Education create district school football associations and promote the game in a serious way as being done in school athletics.

A short term program will have to be implemented to build up our national teams and long term program from the grass root level to develop the sport through the schools island wide, is a must.

Football, defined correctly, is a technical subject and not necessarily an administrative one. Hence there is a need to have technical expertise at every level of the sport, particularly in the thinking and planning stages.

If our teams cannot win on our home soil, how do you expect them to do well on foreign soil. Tours abroad are merely a rouse by the officials for personal fun, glorification and enrichment. This is a crime, and it should be rooted out for good.




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