Football coaches relieved not sacked says FFSL
Dudley Steinwall
The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has ‘relieved’ the national team coaching staff with a three-month notice and pay according to Anura de Silva, its newly reelected President. De Silva, who refuted local media reports told the Sunday Times that the FFSL did not sack the national coaching staff as stated.
“We have just relieved them from their duties as Sri Lanka does not have international engagements until September. We will call them back when needed, we have not sacked them,” he said.
Accordingly Sri Lanka Head Coach Dudley Steinwall, his assistant Devasagayam Rajamani and Goalkeeping Coach Mahinda Galagedara, will get a three-month paid leave, if what de Silva stated was factual. FFSL issuing a press release on Thursday, stated that ‘the coaching staff of Senior National Team was withdrawn from services’.
“The coaching staff was withdrawn from services as the National Team would not engage in any international matches in the near future. The SAFF Football Championship which was scheduled to be held in December 2017 had been postponed indefinitely as the National Team of India has not confirmed their participation yet,” the communiqué stated.
Anura de Silva
Though contradictions come across the FFSL press release and the statement of its President, de Silva revealed the Sunday Times that the coaching staff will be recalled if and when their services are needed.
“We have just relieved them because there’s no engagement until September. We will call them back anytime when needed,” de Silva added.
However Sri Lanka last played their last international game at the AFC Solidarity Cup back in November, 2016. There Sri Lanka lost two games, against Laos and Mongolia and drew the remaining one against Macau. Since then Sri Lanka has not played an international game despite they are supposed to play at least four international friendly matches annually.
The three members of the coaching staff were unreachable and were not available for a comment but it is reliably learnt that even the three members who are involved, are clueless of their future and their commitment with the FFSL. They too have not been clearly educated if their services are needed or not in the future. According to the letter they have received, they could be recalled, retained or expelled after the three months.
The Sri Lanka team does not have any international commitments this year