Martis blames meddling insiders for his resignation
View(s):Veteran Rugby coach Sanath Martis questioned the validity of the term ‘development of the game’ of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) after he was compelled to tender his resignation as coach of the National Under-20 side for the forthcoming Junior Asiad.
Sanath Martis
A dejected Martis put the blame on the SLRFU hierarchy, which he stated as running the game without a proper vision.
Martis had come to this decision after an official from the SLRFU had put extra pressure on junior players representing two top clubs to be released for the ongoing Dialog Division ‘A’ League Tournament instead of making themselves available for national duty.
It is said that the said official had persuaded the Director General of the Ministry of Sports, who is the Competent Authority of SLRFU, to get almost two thirds of the Junior Squad released from training.
Martis, had Dinesh Colin as his assistant and it is learnt that Colin too had expressed his unwillingness to continue or take charge of the side sans Martis.
What had forced Martis to tender his resignation is that the coach has been summoned by the Director General for a meeting with the presence of Rohan Gunaratne, the Chief Executive Officer of SLRFU, where he has been told by the Competent Authority, that ‘wherever it is played rugby is rugby’.
“With the aim of winning the titel I took a squad of 35 players and took them for a residential training at Diyathalawa and just after a day I get news from players that their clubs want them back.
The situation got worse when more players joined the bandwagon and eventually I decided to call it off and return. I gave them a week off and then again I get less players turning out for practices when training resumed.
I was called for a meeting by the Director General and after the chat I decided to throw the towel and let the hierarchy resolve this matter, which is beyond my control, on their own,” Martis said.
According to sources as much as 21 junior players are currently contracted by top clubs where Navy SC and Havelocks SC own the majority of them.
A top player of the junior squad apparently had told Martis that the parents of most of these contracted players are depending exceedingly from the humble riches of their sons.
Interestingly it is said that the same official or set of officials who wanted Kandy SC players grilled for not attending national duty some years back are working behind the curtain to get the junior players off from national duty for club purposes.
“If it is sabotage I think I can guess who is behind it. The top officials who should be taking vital decisions wanted me to untangle the mess they have created and get matters sorted out regarding dispute between SLRFU and the Schools Section.
I’m the appointed coach and it’s beyond my watch. I train outfits not officials without a proper vision. If this is what they call development of the game, then I’m sorry I must say it is the wrong interpretation. It must be named otherwise,” a furious Martis said.
Confusion prevails if the players named for the Junior Asiad come under the SLRFU or the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFU), under which selection is done after tournaments conducted by them.
According to informed sources Martis has been told to sort the matter out, but, he had declined by saying it’s not his territory.
It is also learnt that the SLSRFA is contemplating to pulling out from the Junior Asiad if SLRFU does not co-operate and get matters straightened up with the clubs. The Junior Asiad is scheduled to be held from December 13 to 19 in Singapore.
-NA