Please don’t mislead COPE with scope and hope
I read with interest and concern the article titled “Football – We have COPE but scope and hope” in the Sunday Times of August 21. With regard to some facts revealed to the COPE committee by the ExCo Chairman and the FFSL President, I wish to clear the deck, so that the COPE committee will get a clear picture of the pathetic state of our country’s Football. As I am not a qualified accountant or auditor, I don’t like to elaborate on financial matters, which I leave to the COPE experts to deal with. However, as I am blessed with the technical knowledge of the sport, I would like to give reasons for the downfall of our Football in the last two decades or so.
The undermentioned comments are made in good faith without any prejudice or ill feelings against any individuals or groups and I trust the COPE will accept the analysis in the same spirit it is said. I played for my country for more than a decade, both here and abroad, in various international competitions. I have coached the youth and senior National teams for 5 years. And I hold various positions in the Controlling Body. Hence, I am in an unbiased position to make relevant comments. No amount of posturing could salvage our Football from the abyss into which it has fallen in the last decade or more.
In the rather long history of our Football, there have been many instances of malpractices, ranging from fraud and deceit, to deception. Blatant irregularities and mismanagement enacted, deliberate acts of omission and a host of horrendous acts of mischief have been committed, while correspondingly, penalties have been few, if not nil. The situation has not changed even now, though the FFSL ExCo Chairman blames his predecessor and past Presidents for the downfall of our Football, forgetting that he too, was working with them, shoulder to shoulder, during the period 2002 to 2012. In fact, he was the Treasurer for a couple of years during that period.
As such, he too must take the blame and responsibility for the financial irregularities, particularly for the deteriorated standard of our Football. In such a situation, what he should have done was to gracefully resign from all his positions, as I did in 2001, when I was the FFSL’s Director for Youth Football Development. I resigned on two occasions on matters of principle. I don’t see any reason why you have not done so, after so much financial frauds and dismal performances by our National teams from 2002 to date. To state to the COPE committee that, out of 14 subcommittees in the FFSL, only 4 are active, while the other 10 are inefficient and inactive due to travelling issues, and you are unable to give them travelling expense, is indeed a disgrace.
Decades ago men of quality and fine stock holding office in the Federation, kept the game and its administration on the right track. There weren’t any grants nor sponsorship either. Depending on gate receipts or, all by themselves, they worked very hard to find the necessary finances, keeping all the affiliated Football leagues in active competition Football, and the National squad on par with our immediate neighbours but, what of today? With millions of rupees spent on foreign tours by the giants, funds wasted on court cases, high salaries paid to a few officials who have not played Football at a major level, nor having much recognition within the Football circle, for lack of technical and administrative skills, is nothing but waste.
For example, the recently concluded FA Cup tournament which they messed up with 500 teams participating, of which 50 gave walkovers. The prestigious Super 8 tournament which was scheduled to commence last week, was postponed due to unavailability of grounds. This is like a marriage fixed without booking the reception hall for the Poruwa ceremony, which gives the impression that the Controlling Body now managed by few individuals, is like a bankrupt institute. Fortunately, when you were the President from 2013-2015, the FFSL was sponsored by Cargills and Dialog, which was indeed a shot in the arm for local Football. An exercise of such national dimension can never be conducted without adequate financial assistance.
Hence, this sponsorship is of utmost importance. However, it would be prudent for the FFSL to generate their own revenue, so that, if any cracks appears in the sponsorship, in future, the National Football leagues would not be subject to discontinuance. As revealed, if your aim is to be the No.1 Football team in South Asia, it is not necessary to wait till 2022. Certainly, with a proper development plan and hard work with commitment, you will be able to achieve it within a short period of time- say in 2 years. To reach Asian Standard, of course, you need 6 years.
Achievements by our national teams in international competitions, during the last three years or so, has been rather disappointing. Development plans and programmes are spoken of only in the newspapers and on TV. Implementation is either slow or not effective.
In such a backdrop, to appear in front of the COPE committee and totally blame your predecessor and past presidents is indeed blameworthy.
It is not a secret that, today, we are witnessing an unprecedented level of corruption and abuse of position in Football administration, hitherto unheard of in the long and chequered history of Football in our country. What is most unfortunate is the apathy, unconcern and disinterest shown by the Ministry of Sports in the past few years, to arrest the cancer, particularly in the light of glaring exposures presented with such clarity and certainty. The failure to probe or inquire in to the flood of genuine complaints and blatant acts of abuse and mismanagement within the Football Controlling Body, has disappointed the genuine lovers of Football.
Among the many responsibilities cast on the Sports Ministry is the responsibility to ensure the achievement of technical excellence in the game, is paramount. To achieve this degree of excellence, the FFSL must play a principal role and none else whomsoever. It is therefore incumbent on the Ministry of Sports to ensure the FFSL delivers results. The first priority is to get technically qualified and competent personnel to guide and direct the FFSL. To reveal diluted facts and fairytales to the media by the FFSL’s pair of giants, after meeting the COPE Committee, makes one wonder why critical comments are made. They must bear in mind the colossal grants, donations and sponsorship that have come our way during the last three years, with unfettered regularity.
Hence, the appeal to those extraordinary men at the top, who boast of their scope and hope for our Football to the media is not fair and just, and the only alternative available is to gracefully step down and make room for fresh blood, with new thinking, new vision and those who have the passion for Football and the country at heart. We, the Football lovers of this country, humbly request the COPE Committee to be careful of those trying to hoodwink you, and to take appropriate steps against, not only those involved in financial irregularities, but also against those who have totally ruined Sri Lanka Football. It is our sincere hope that the COPE will make it a point to invite a few past National players and a few knowledgeable Football loving spectators and take into account their views and comments, without getting misled by a few FFSL officials who paint a totally wrong picture.
We immediately need a complete change in Football administration. Get the right men who are prepared to work hard with commitment, to resurrect the sport, to produce fruitful results in the future. One need not possess a Socrates brain to realise that we have truly stagnated at international level for decades, and it seems to be worse now. Few persons may mislead the COPE committee comprising of experts and professionals on financial matters, but not the Football loving crowd who know what Football is all about. It is high time the authorities see things truly as they are and do everything possible to enhance our standards and resurrect the common man’s sport- Football.