Dishantha’s plea for recognition
View(s):After spending almost 18 years in the business of rugby coaching, Dishantha Priyadharshana was a man with an unaccomplished mission a few months ago but he always had a broken heart about the sport he was involved in. His dream of coaching a top Division ‘A’ club rugby side has now become a reality but the heartache of being overlooked by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) for top assignments as a coach still remains as it is.
Fond memories: with the Wesley junior team in 2009. The same outfit went on to win the Schools Knockout title in 2012
“I always wanted to coach a top club side and now it’s a dream come true after being appointed as the head coach of Sri Lanka Air Force. But it’s sad that the SLRFU is not considering coaches like me within the national structure so we can learn more by working with the much experienced seniors and move ourselves forward. But sadly, like me, many in Sri Lanka do a thankless job, needless to say ignored by the most important cog of the wheel, the SLRFU,” a rejoicing yet dejected Priyadarshana stated.
Recalling that the highest coaching post he held was being an assistant to Sri Lanka’s national coach George Simpkin, Priyadarshana still longs to take on a big post, such as coach of the national team, if given the opportunity. But he hinted that if not the commitment with Sri Lanka Air Force will be his last stint before throwing the towel and devoting more time on his family and business.
For Priyadarshana, an old boy of Science College Mt. Lavinia who is presently employed as a Health Science Teacher at St. Joseph’s College Colombo, success at rugby was nothing new, though the journey was not that rosy. He started off his coaching career as a junior coach at Science College and then helped out a few schools that are unfamiliar to rugby.
His biggest break came in 2001 when he was appointed the coach of Wesley College, after playing second in command to veteran coach and the renowned shrewd tactician of local rugby, Sanath Martis. Priyadarshana’s task was enormous yet he made Wesley proud by helping them pull out with two famous yet historic wins, against Royal College and Trinity College. Later he was offered the coaching position by Trinity College but declined with gratefulness to remain at Wesley, where he spent almost eight years.
Then he joined St. Joseph’s College in 2008 and gave them the joy of recording the first ever win against Trinity College in the history of 52 years. Then he moved to Thurstan College as its head coach before taking a brief time off, largely disappointed by the way coaches of his status are recognised by the SLRFU.
“Throughout my career, I have helped brush up talent of closer to 30 rugby players who went on to represent Sri Lanka and become top names of the game at domestic level. But why aren’t our efforts being recognised by the SLRFU is the biggest disappointment. I’m an IRB Level II qualified coach and I know that all cannot fill the fit into the sack but why not a single opportunity, to prove our capabilities. I may continue this, like most in our trade in the country, and make rugby coaching a part time job in the future. But for now I have a team to build up and prove a point, that what matters is not brawns but brains in rugby coaching,” he stressed.
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