Is our Football a second class citizen?
Questions are being raised on the above subject by this country’s Football lovers, for which the incumbent FFSL President is obliged to give a proper answer. Having been a national player, much was expected from him when he occupied the top seat of the FFSL. However,it is disappointing to note, while completing one year in office, he has failed to resurrect the sport or submit a comprehensive plan and programme, technically or organizationally, to promote and develop the game. For us, one thing is certain, he too, will gracefully pack his bag and go home in 2019, like his predecessor, leaving the common man’s sport to be the poorest of the poor.
The Ceylon Football Association which was the Controlling Body of Football in this country then, made a valuable contribution for over 30 years of its existence, from 1940 to 1970. Thirty years in the life of an Association is fairly a long period, an opportune moment to take stock of the past and on the basis of experience already gained, to lay down plans for the future.
To know and appreciate the popularity and development of Football in the country, it is necessary to know the history of the game itself. There is evidence of the game being played in 1880 in the sprawling sandy stretches known as the Galle Face Green, by bare-chested British servicemen stationed in and around Colombo. Subsequently, they were joined by our local lads in the area, which later spread islandwide, as a leisure sport.
With the formation of Football Leagues and Associations in 1920, namely City Football League, Colombo Mercantile Association League, Government Services Soccer Association League, Upcountry European Soccer Association, Colombo Referees Association, and the Playground League in the city were making their impact on the game. Football was taught, particularly, to children of the poorest of the poor, in many parks and fields that came under the authorities. The Municipal playgrounds, in fact, became the base for the growth of the sport in Colombo, which, most of the local authorities in the principal cities and towns elsewhere in the country too, followed. If a body were to be honoured for assisting in the promotion and development of Football in this country, the Colombo Municipal Council and its playgrounds in the country should be the undisputed recipient of that honour. Great players of the calibre of M.M. Hassimdeen, P.D. Siresena, Piyadasa Perera, A. Zainulabdeen, M.A. Ameer, Tom Ossen, Mahinda Aluvihare, T.M. Amidon to name a few, are products of these parks and playgrounds maintained by the Municipal Councils and local authorities.
The need for a National Controlling Body for Football in Ceylon was clearly apparent, as the game blossomed from 1920s to 1940s. Following a meeting in late 1939, representatives of Football Clubs, Services, the Planting community, the Public service and the Mercantile sector, the first National Body for football was formed under the name “Ceylon Football Association” (CFA). The following were elected office bearers: Patron- Sir John Tarbet, President- C.W. Mackie, Secretary- R. Mackie and Treasurer- Donovan Andree. After World War II, in 1946, President- Capt W.T. Brindley, Secretary- A.A. Perera and Treasurer- Cecil Bocks, renewed its activities with vigour, In 1948, Dr. A.R.M. Waffarn, a knowledgeable and keen follower of British Football, took over as CFA Secretary, and was followed by A.W. Musafer who re-shaped the destiny of local Football with his sharp, sure and sensible approach to the sport. Subsequently, the CFA was re-structured and re-named the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
The following distinguished personalities adorned the office of President in the CFA or the FFSL- Cdr. G.R.M Mel, E.A. Badman, Sir Allan Rose, Dr. W.R. Chanmugam, V.A. Sugathadasa, Dr. N.B. Wijesekara, M.D. Kitchilan, B.G.S. David, I.D.M. Van Twest, Dunstan de Alwis, H.W.H. Weerasinghe, Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi. Secretaries who made Football the No.1 sport in our country, are worthy of mention. They are, J.C. Bocks, A.A. Perera, Dr. A.R.M. Waffarn, A.W. Musafer, B.C. Hendricus, P.M.S. Wijesundaram, M.H. Yusuf, J.J. Sarangapany, V.K. Arumugam, R. Jeevaratnam, Jim. Ranasinghe and Lt.Col. C.S. Fernando. It was their flair, enthusiasm and drive that made Football a household name in the country, particularly from 1940-1970. My two elder brothers- Naheem, Muzammil- and I had the privilege of playing Football in the country during this period. In fact, 2 of us Captained the National team.
From 1950 to 1970, talented Footballers were gainfully employed by various sectors, with some of them reaching great heights. To mention a few- Air Marshall Terrance Gunawardena became Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Ananda Weerasekera became Major General, his brother Sarath Weerasekara became Rear Admiral, Major General Ananda Chandrasiri became North Province Governor. Players of the calibre of M. Sivaratnam, Wanigaratna, Harold Anthony, Benard Silva and Wasantha Wickramasinghe became Deputy Inspectors General of the Police, Anton Mariadasen was a Doctor. In the Mercantile- Peter Ranasinghe became a Director, Micheal de Zoysa, Ranjith Pandithage and Thilak Peiris became Chairmen, Trevor Reckerman became a Marketing Consultant, Bagoos Saldin, Tom Deen, M.M. Hassimdeen, M.A.V Fernando were Executives. In fact, I had the privilege of retiring as an Assistant General Manager. What is the fate and position of most of our National players today? My guess is as good as yours. It is not surprising that most parents and Principals of schools encourage their children to play Cricket or Rugby.
History will not be complete if appreciation is not recorded of the encouragement and assistance extended to Football by our former Heads of State, such as as D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kothalawela, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike, J.R. Jayawardena and Ranasinghe Premadasa. However, it is rather disappointing to note that, in the recent times, not only the Heads of State, even the Ministers of Sports of successive Governments not only treat the common man’s sport, Football, as a second class citizen, but have failed to provide a proper playing field in the capital, for the National teams to train.
On the other hand, the FFSL Administrators have failed to cordially work with these Ministries- Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Education- to formulate an effective National Junior Programme. As a result, Football has suffered step-motherly treatment from both Ministries and from the local Authorities. This unfortunate phenomenon commenced in 2013, with the quality of leadership and competence diminishing conspicuously within the FFSL. Persons who were technically ignorant of Football, totally ruined the game. Things have become worse, and are now beyond repair.
To be frank, in recent times, neither the FFSL nor its affiliated Leagues have made much headway, technically or organisationally, to improve the playing standards of the game or, its promotion as a truly National sport. Further, our National teams have failed miserably, both at Junior and Senior levels, at international competitions during the last decade. Today, at the end of 79 years of Association Football, we are in the midst of this unfortunate phenomenon. However, with the peerless tradition the game has had, and with more than 100 years of existence in this country, it will certainly not be beyond our reach, provided we get the right men to do the right job. If selfish interests are cast aside, we may yet find sufficient quality men with honesty and integrity, to guide the destiny of this sport, both at League and National level, within the FFSL.