We are stronger after Australian whitewash claims Ramachandra
View(s):The incumbent President of Sri Lanka Netball Association (SLNA), Yasa Ramachandra stated that she and her administrative group became more strong and determined after being lashed at following the dismal performances of the national netball team at the Netball World Cup 2015, held in Sydney, Australia. Ramachandra told the Sunday Times that she, as a former player and coach was very much pleased with the performance of the young team, even though she had a little regret.
Yasa Ramachandra (Inset) regrets losing to Singapore, not once but twice
“If I had anything to lament about is losing to Singapore, not just once but twice. It was something that I personally looked forward to. Yes, we had a young team with only a handful of seniors, but then again there were things that were beyond our control, just because of the fact that we tried to act clean and transparent, going through the protocol. But now I know that I’m not sitting on the cleanest chairs on earth, when you are here, at the helm, you must expect the unexpected and be prepared to take on challenges. Thank God I did sports and I’m strong,” Ramachandra, unbothered by the brief off-the-field encounters she had to face during the four months as the chief of SLNA stated.
The performances of the Sri Lanka netball team at the concluded Netball World Cup, where hosts Australia emerged champions for the third successive occasion, were heavily condemned and critisised by many in the field of sports. Sri Lanka lost all their preliminary round matches from Pool ‘D’ against Malawi, South Africa and close rivals Singapore, before losing another set of three in the second round from Pool ‘H’ against Fiji, Scotland and Barbados. The Lankan lasses lost to Zambia in a playoff and went on to taste defeat in a placing encounter against Singapore, for a second time in the competition.
This, coupled up with many other aspects – ranging from selection to team management – brought continuous displeasure on the manner the entire process, or the campaign for the Netball World Cup, was handled. But Ramachandra, herself being a well admired player and a well respected coach and official, had already identified the crux of the dilemma.
“What I knew before making my entry as an administrator is that the first thing I must do as the head of SLNA is to unite all factions as one big family. This is my main objective, unless I achieve that, I will not be able to do the wonders and hopes I have in me as a netball lover and as a servant of the country. This is a curse that can shatter and scatter a good image of any tiny, simple, little thing. United we stand, divided we fall, that’s what I have to say to my fellow colleagues. As for the team, I personally feel that they did their best given the fact that what were around us,” she voiced out with strangely adopted annoyance.
Ramachandra, still pointed out, despite being just four months since taking over the SLNA, she and her team are very much focused on the upcoming plans, which includes two top class domestic tournaments and on the Under-21 Asian Championship to be held in Hong Kong later this year. But Ramachandra point blank stressed that nothing have been done with undue stress, interference or any other mean or way. One of the main reasons for her to bring this point out was the heavy lashing by many on and off the field of netball on selections, the appointment of the skipper, who apparently is the daughter of the coach, and the conduct of the coach. The appointment of the coach, according to Ramachandra, was strictly done through an accepted norm. The selection committee headed by Chandrani Pathiraja, includes Rohini Perera, Thisarangani Kodituwakku, Sakunthala Wijesinghe and Seetha Ramani, all whom Ramachandra greatly admires as stalwarts of netball.
“When we took over from the former administration, the selection committee was already in place. And within a matter of weeks we were handed a list of 30 players as the preliminary squad for the World Cup. Then the coaching staff recommended their list of players, which came to around half of the initial squad. 12 were picked and we had a serious discussion before naming the skipper, after having gone through the bio data of all players. The skipper, Semini Alwis, was named because she was the most senior out of the lot with international experience. There were couple of other players but Semini’s track record was better. In addition we got only two applications for the post of the coach and Deepthi Alwis happened to have the impressive record out of the two. Then again there were discouraging reports on the manageress of the team. We thought she might fit into this position but then again we cannot expect everyone to perform with equally standard. People differ and we found out that she does not fit the slot,” dejected yet highly motivated by the mistakes took place to perform better, Ramachandra explained.
Ramachandra strongly pointed out that the typical Sri Lankan attitude, which tempts to act negatively and counteractively to any action, is the main cancer in netball, which is an all-women sport in Sri Lanka, but gathering momentum among men too. She stressed that if this attitude problem could be dropped out, just for once, permanently, not only netball, all sport disciplines as well as other main cogs in the country can benefit immensely.
“We need to have an opposition, be it sports or any other component. But that opposition must be to the benefit and development of the sport, not to take it to ruins. Sadly this is the greatest challenge I am facing to come through as a head of a sport governing body in this country. Now I can feel how other heads of associations and federations could be feeling, when the real intention is to develop the sport. I love netball, I’m not dejected but a little taken back, but I’m determined than before. Before I leave this seat to another, I’m hopeful of putting all factions together and make netball one of the most successful sports, domestically and internationally,” Ramachandra affirmed.