Change for competent administration, the dire need of the hour
Team work does not come handy for FFSL big guns anymore - File pic
Today, we are witnessing unprecedented infighting, corruption and abuse for positions in Football administration, hitherto unheard in the long and chequered history of local Football. Speaker after speaker, in the run up to the election for the top positions within the Footbal Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) got embroiled in this sport’s malaise, both from newspapers and at ExCo meetings, with such resentment and indignation, that the issue, by and large, drew the attention of the Football lovers. However, what was unspoken was the equally despicable level of corruption and abuse of position in the management of Football. What is most unfortunate is the inquiry into the flood of genuine complaints and blatant acts of irregularities within the FFSL, which had disappointed genuine Football lovers. It is therefore incumbent on the Sports Ministry to ensure that the first priority is for technically qualified and competent personnel to guide and direct the FFSL.
Sports is a technical subject. That is why the late K.B. Ratnayake introduced appropriate legislation in the early ’70s to ensure that, only those who have actively participated in the respective sport at a major level of competition, shall qualify to hold the position of President, Secretary or CEO of a National Association. This prudent and pertinent law is observed today more in the breach. Some who have not kicked a ball properly or, not played in any international tournaments or matches, who claim they represented the country, are at the helm or, trying to reach it, having a whale of a time. May I suggest to Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera to kindly consider appointing a National Technical Board (NTB) which will report to the Minister on (A) the technical qualification and competence of officials in conformity with the Sports Law (B) to assess and report on the prevailing performing standards in comparison to Regional and Asian standards. Initially, if these two aspects are gone into, the Minister can then make his observations and come to his own conclusions in proposing remedial action. The appointment of a NTB could clear the deck and lay a fertile base for Football to develop in our country. Let not a few vultures prey, and a handful of cronies run not, in the name of Football.
In the light of the norms and pre-requisites for effective sports administration, the Sports Ministry must ensure the use of ex-Footballers or, persons with technical competence of an infinitely higher grade, to see that no usurper or pretender twists or cheats the existing Sports Law relating to the qualifications to hold office.
Further, Sports journalists must be careful of those who make Sports comments to their newspapers with farrago of falsehood, fantasies and fairy tales, saying they represented the National Teams, played school and club football at a higher level and so on.
If any newspaper is prepared to open a column for public comment on Sports coverage, the result will undoubtedly be much larger than the people’s verdict against corruption at the forthcoming election.
Some officials, having served the 2-year term, shifted into another position to qualify after a break, and resume the old position at the top in the FFSL. The 3 top giants contesting this time, have been living within the FFSL for many years, and in all these years, the game they represented has been resting at sub-regional level at best. This is the actual truth. Further, to complete last year’s prestigious Super League Inter Club competition, sponsored by Dialog, it took them 1 year and 4 months, which is indeed a record. During the last two years, not a single ‘Home International’ match was played by our National Team, for our Football-loving fans to witness, enjoy and gauge our standards. We challenge the 3 top giants of the FFSL to name our present senior National Squad. In such a pathetic backdrop, it is not only ridiculous, but a shame for such people to contest various positions at the forthcoming election. Let the Sports Minister see through these evil schemes and the damage caused to the Sport and, if changes are necessary in the Sports Law, please do so, to stop this trickery and foolery. Limit the term strictly to 2 years and no more. Extension of any term should be only on undeniable evidence of achieving required standards in the Sport.
As far as our Football is concerned, the rate of growth has been dismally slow or ineffective, with all the finance, facilities, equipment, grants, sponsorship and coaching. The million dollar question is why? Even in sickness a medical diagnosis comes first and thereafter, changes in medicine are prescribed until the final cure. Why do not we apply these same principles to achieve excellence in Football? We depend on the same doctor for long years until the patient turns serious. In fact, in our case, the patient is mostly treated by attendants. There is no change in the prescription either. Even amongst the administration men the world over, regular changes are effected, depending on results and results alone. Here, we have a situation of continuity through some scheming and manoeuvring, damn the results, damn the sport.
It is not a secret that, Football is in the doldrums from 2001 to 2016. The worst period was from 2013 to 2016. Sad to say, Football is now at a low ebb. It is evident in that, from 123rd in World Football rankings, we have dropped to 193rd out of 209 countries, even below nations of the calibre of Mongolia, Bhutan, Laos and Maldives to name a few.
Holding office for prestige, foreign tours and other benefits are not the right ones to promote and develop Sri Lanka Football. We need honest people with integrity, and moreover, those who love Football and the motherland.
Top positions such as Chairman or Directors are held by persons without basic educational qualifications and technical knowledge of the Sport. This, besides being an eyesore that is creeping into our Football administration, it has systematically driven away genuine Football players of repute and given way to mediocrities, if not very gifted pretenders. Even if one concedes that these men of wit are basically honest and with a degree of social stature, their blissful ignorance of the technicalities of the Sport, makes them totally ineffective in terms of directions and guidance to achieve technical excellence in the Sport.
On the other hand, officials of the affiliated Football Leagues islandwide, have a very important role to play in electing the correct individuals to the FFSL. As an annuall tradition, to travel to Colombo, attend the AGM, have a hearty breakfast followed by lunch with liquor and gifts, makes them reluctantly compelled to raise their hands and appoint the misfits to handle the administration of FFSL, is a crime
To this day, the situation has not changed and will not in the foreseeable future. It is indeed tragic, with the 78-year history of Association Football, not even 10% of men with technical competence or national playing experience, have been brought into the policymaking body. It is not surprising therefore, to find Sri Lanka placed almost at the bottom of Asia and World Football, at the end of such a long trek.
If only the Sports Minister demands from the FFSL, the re-activation of its Football Leagues, as a top priority. Secondly, a NTB appointed by the Sports Ministry, to plan, promote and produce technical excellence in our Football to come into force immediately. This committee should go into all technical aspects of collegiate, clubs, leagues and international Football, and its recommendation at local level put into effect by the FFSL as a matter of urgency. In this way, there is hope for Football in the years ahead, or else, it will die like a cancer patient, sooner or little later. Re-activation of all Football Leagues in their full glory and splendour is mandatory on the people aspiring to occupy the top seats of the FFSL at the forthcoming election, which is the first step in the right direction.
Will 2017 be a good year for Sri Lanka Football? This is the question on the minds of all local Football lovers.
If that is to happen, then it is vital that a fresh set of competent administrators are elected and appointed to serve the FFSL.