Would Throwball kick-off or throw-up
The Throwball Federation of Sri Lanka (TFSL), which has been functioning at low key in the country for nearly two decades without much of a fanfare or spotlight, is gradually becoming a topic nowadays.
Girls Teams
As tradition proves, any sport will be nobody’s baby until money, benefits or privileges come into play and Throwball is the latest to be hog the limelight. Unfortunately, this occurs at a time when Sri Lanka is on the verge of sending their first ever Throwball national junior teams for the Asian Junior Championships in Malaysia.
At the same time it happens to be at a time when certain pity-minded are focused on making use of the opportunities for their own benefit while individuals who have thrown out their energy and fortune to develop the sport are left with nothing but keep mum.
“This is a sport that took wings 18 years ago thanks to bighearted sportspersons like Yasa Ramachandra and Anula Perera. And now the sport is in the safe hands of Godfrey Dabrera, who is the President of the TFSL.
You can say that Throwball or its players have never seen the beautiful skies in terms of benefits or facilities. But whatever it is, from a humble beginning, where there were only a handful of people engaged in the sport, Throwball has grown to become a popular, yet an unheard-of-to-many sport in Sri Lanka.
Until recent the sport has never generated support but when it starts to flow in there comes along certain people with agendas which is not a good sign.
We had to experience this heartbreaking sort of occurrence when our junior teams are set to take wings to Malaysia,” Prasanna Aloysius, a devoted former player and the present national coach told the Sunday Times.
Throwball, like other unknown sport in the country, undergoes a gypsy-type lifestyle. It has a leader, a team of officials and a tribe of over 10,000 who are identified as players.
Boys Teams
Out of the total number, closer to 10,000 come from nearly 1000 schools around the country while closer to 500 are based at club and district levels. Aloysius, a former basketball player at school and national level, is one of the pioneers to take up Throwball.
He went on to play for Sri Lanka after representing the Kegalle District and ended up being the coach of the national senior and junior teams.
Aloysius, unlike coaches of other sports, has the daunting task of remolding players, who have been brought up by different methods.
He stated that it’s one huge mission to bring them to meet international standards of the game.
“These boys and girls are talented but they come from different types of training styles. Some just do the basics while they have the potential to go far.
When you are the coach at national level, you cannot take this as a burden. It’s just these players are been given the basic training by teachers, who are trained by former players, now turned coaches.
The game has to expand, though the coaching methods need to be updated. The teachers who act as instructors are doing a wonderful job in helping us find talent,” Aloysius added.
Regrettably, some of these teachers, who are in-charge of Throwball at school level, are the ones who have become selfish and adamant due to reasons better known to them.
While individuals at TFSL in the likes of Dabrera, who is the honorary president and Ramachandra, the honorary deputy president, give out their knowledge, wealth and time for the development of sport, some who claim to be officials of the school section are focused on other perks.
“It’s not a good sign. There is a highly talented girl who should be in this team but she was not given the permission by her school head. She is poor but has the real raw talent.
There were many, some teachers, who had come forward to help her financially but this principal seems to be adamant that he cannot approve the girls’ selection to the national junior Throwball team, while principals of 14 other schools gave their blessing wholeheartedly.
It’s just one case and there was another when individuals from the schools section stated some of their officials should be on this tour too,” Aloysius, an individual doing a voluntary and honorary service to sport, stated dejectedly.
Interestingly, despite the helpless situation of the TFSL officials financially, they have managed to obtain support from individuals through personal contacts for the tour.
Most of the money spent, on clothing, residential training, food and expenses such as visa requirements, documentation and others are met by personal contributions of Dabrera, Ramachandra and others involved.
Though they have the opportunity to fly along with the teams, none of the TFSL officials are making use of the opportunity as an overseas trip.
Instead they are keen of streaming ahead to come out with workable plans to make Throwball a sport to reckon with in the country.
The Sri Lanka Junior boy’s and girl’s teams, which include 12 members each from 14 different schools across the island, will fly off to Malaysia on December 26 for the four-day competition.
The Asian Junior Throwball Championship 2015, will be held in Bidara Court, Selayang in Selangor from December 27 to 30 with hosts Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and debutants Sri Lanka taking part.
Boys: Akash Senanayake (Captain), Sahan Kalpitha (VC), Sukhitha Pramodh, Imalka Senanayake (all from Kegalu Vidyalaya), Gihan Hansajith (VC), Sithum Vimantha, Isuru Chamalka (all from Isipathana College), Chamath Nimsara (Kumaradasa MV, Wellawaya), Ranindu Vimukthi (Thelijjawila Central, Matara), Mohamed Rifqi (Alawathugoda NS, Kandy), Samith Madushanka (Sripali Vidyalaya, Horana), R.N. Praveenth (Union College, Jaffna)
Girls: Shiny Madurawala (Captain), Diana Fernando (VC), Mahesha Sandumini (VC) (all from Ave Maria Convent, Negombo), Lakmali Munasinghe (Kumaradasa MV, Wellawaya), Dhananjani Thanuja Kumari (Hedunuwewa Central, Kotmale), Nethmi Miyurangana (Saranath MV, Kuliyapitiya), Bhagya Madushani Jothiratne (Yahalarawa MV, Welimada), Rashmi Obeysekara (Rajasinghe Central, Ruwanwella), Madhuri Nisansala (Malwatthawela Central, Wellawaya), Arunodika Lakchani (Gamini Central, Ingiriya), Sabari Sanuja, Pahirathan Kirunthika (both from Union College, Jaffna)
Officials: Prasanna Aloysius (Coach), Ashan Chirantha (Asst. Coach), Swarna Fernando, C.J. Ratnasiri, Irangani Ruberu, Mohamed Fawaz,