Downfall of our football
The origins of football in Sri Lankan in its undiluted form have a history of over a hundred and thirty years. Most of it has been in the form of a leisurely recreational sport. We can take immense pride in being able to organize, conduct and promote the game for over seventy five years, which itself is a record.
Football action is heralded by the crowd but the need of a facility dedicated to in Colombo is greatly felt. - File pic
However it is rather sad and disappointing to note since late 1970s, that not much headway has been made technically or organisationally, to improve the playing standard of the game or its promotion as a truly national sport. The zest and zeal years between the 1945s and the 1960s gradually waned off, leaving the sport almost unplayed in some parts of the country. Internationally we are in the bottom of the world football ranking, placed in the 196th position, just above countries like Bhutan, Laos, Guam and Mongolia. Further it is evident that at the last SAFF Cup Tournament held in Nepal, we were beaten by the Maldives 10 – 0. This shows at the end of 75 years of association football, we are in the midst of the unfortunate phenomenon. Has the controlling body up-to-date introduced a proper plan or programme, implement it, to resurrect the common man’s Sport – Football from the grass root level?
What good is it to cry from the roof-tops that we are going to get technical and financial assistance from various countries, when our domestic soccer scene is in a shambles and our technical performing standards and below sub regional level. Aren’t these claims a joke in such a pitiful soccer scenario?
We are great at the bluff game be it in politics, sports or in another field. At soccer some have mastered the art of bluff in style to such perfection, that an unsuspecting nation and its leaders, full in the belief that soccer officials are taking us to Olympic heights. A few air tickets and the accompanying perks offered to selected league officials gives the finishing touches with writings that pushes to shame fantasies, fables and Utopian delights. There is no secret our football standards have reached the last layer of the base and there is no more to go below.
Since 1980 it has become a tradition and culture, to occupy the top seat in the controlling body for two years by individuals who have not played football at a higher level – thus making a mockery of the sports law, technically ignorant and care a damn for the sport and the country.
The actual deterioration of football commenced with the old order yielding the new destines of football since 1978 have further darkened the picture, causing immeasurable harm to football and now the situation has become worse which is beyond repair. I must be frank to state that in today’s administrative sphere of football, I do not see a single person with a sound knowledge of the game at the helm of affairs. Hence they cannot control the gospel efficiently without any fear or favour like those men of that golden era.
It is high time for the Hon. Minister of Sports to go for an Interim Body, for a short period of time to saving football from the evil influence of few money-men who are, ruining our football. On behalf of the soccer loving crowd and the players, I kindly call the Hon. Minister to intervene as the last hope for a healthy and balanced future of Sri Lanka football.
During the period 1950 to 1970 – the play grounds in the city was making its impact on the game of football, was taught particularly to the children of the poorest of the poor, in the many parks and fields that came under the local authority. The Municipal playgrounds, in fact, became the base of the growth of the sport in Colombo, there were over fifteen such playgrounds in the city of Colombo, which was under the guidance of qualified and experience Playground Instructors who spend their valuable time, money and energy specially for the game of football while most of the local authorities in the country too followed Colombo’s lead.
If a body were to be honoured for assisting positively in the promotion and development of football in this country, the Colombo Municipal Council and its playgrounds in particular and the rest of playgrounds of the local authorities in the country should be the undisputed recipients of that honour. Great players in the calibre of M.M. Hassimdeen, K.A. Premadasa, P.D. Sirisena, Synoon, Somapala, Zainulabdeen, Piyadasa Perera, M.A. Ameer, Mahinda Aluvihare, Tom Ossen, T. Amidon and I, to name a few are the products of these playgrounds coached and trained by the playground instructors who helped us, rise to the top rung in their football career. These playgrounds all over the country remains to this day as the centres for football and undisputed bastion of city and village football, though one could see today, occasional softball cricket played and particularly used for election meetings and processions by the politicians.
Another drawback for the growth and popularity of football as a national sport and as a serious contender in the Asian Circuit is the accruing of famous football grounds in the Colombo City, by successive governments for development purposes. For example the Government Services ground where Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel is situated, Sports ground where Hotel Taj is built, the Echelon Square grounds where Hotel Galadari and Hilton now stands and at present the Army ground has been occupied by Shangri La Hotel. Further the Racecourse ground once used for football has been converted as a venue now, only to play rugby.
While the sport complexes of the alma mater of the Heads of State stands in front of the Football Headquarters, it is sad to mention that the most popular sport — football is given a step motherly treatment without a proper venue in the heart of Colombo city to play its international matches, conduct domestic tournaments and the national teams to do their training properly and effectively in view of participating in international competitions.
Though the Sugathadasa Stadium was built fifty years ago particularly for the game of football, it also catered other sports like rugby, athletics, netball and school children to conduct their sports meets etc, without any harassment or disturbances. But now the so called Stadium Committee who has no knowledge of its history, treating soccer players and the soccer loving crowd in a shabby and unsporting manner.
I as a sportsman don’t have any anger, wrath or jealous against any sport, in fact, I always witness other sports such as cricket rugby, athletics, boxing, and weightlifting in addition to football, particularly when Sri Lankans participate. For the past two decades we have seen, studied and sized up our soccer lay-out in terms of policy planning and performing standards. We may be the most disappointed. After all what could even the national coaches do with very mediocre players to deal with. We are now reaping a harvest of mediocrities in the game, thanks to the absence of a strong and viable junior and youth soccer base of the 6000 schools in the country, not even five per cent take part in competitive soccer. From where on earth could we provide quality players at club, league and national level if we do not provide adequate and well equipped nurseries? Try as you may, no good could churn out star performances with pedestrian talent.