Junior Tuskers’ mahout Nilfer has his work cut out for him
With 18 days to go before the Asia Under (U)-20 7s Series kicks off at the Kings Park Stadium in Hong Kong, preparing the Sri Lanka U-20 7s Rugby squad team for this challenge will be the short term goal of National Junior 7s Head Coach, Nilfer Ibrahim.
Nilfer Ibrahim
In the long run, Ibrahim sees the bigger picture, where he feels heads of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) should work together, aiming at the international stage.
The celebrated young coach Ibrahim may not be the only ‘dreamer’ in this case. Almost the entire Rugby fraternity, besides a handful, daydreams of such a coalition to take place one of these days. As it has been years of passing-the-ball-around-and-blaming-the-other duels between the SLR and SLSRFA, sans silverware to offer.
Two of the most important entities of Rugby in Sri Lanka come together only when there is a dispute of national interest at a school game or, when the U-20 team is in the process of being formed.
“We cannot claim to be at the top level, because we really don’t have a professional system, though there are a few highly followed competitions in Sri Lanka, such as the Schools League. Officials and coaches may come and go, but the most important cog in the machine is the player. We should look at things, plan accordingly, focusing on the player. We cannot ignore that fact when we are in office or in-charge of a team, and grieve when we are out of it. For that, the SLR and SLSRFA should sit together and work out a comprehensive plan, treating it as highly important,” Ibrahim stated.
Talking of administrative responsibilities might not be Ibrahim’s forte, when he should be focused on training the 36-member Sri Lanka U-20 7s squad. But, he is strongly of the view that players too need a holiday, and local competitions should be planned accordingly, in addition to observing the academic commitments of school players, as well as professional commitments of the club players.
The Junior Tuskers emerged champs in 2016 and ended up runners-up in 2017. Most of the players from last year's team will be retained for this year - File pic
“We know well that 7s Rugby is our future on the global stage, though we had setbacks until recently. Nowadays we cannot complain about not having bigger and taller players. We have such players with high levels of skills, that’s a blessing for a country trying its utmost to create an impression,” he explained further, which is bigger than what it seems.
Until very recently, Sri Lanka relied much on pace and skills, not size. Lack of bigger and faster players has brought unexpected losses where, in reality, Sri Lanka deserved a win. But the current U-20 7s squad has an abundance of big made and equally skillful players, making the team one of the top contenders at the one-off competition.
“The 7s standard is now better than it used to be. Undoubtedly, Sri Lanka has a bright future in 7s internationally. Earlier we lamented the lack of bigger and taller players, but now we have a good number of them. Unlike in the past, we will be able to gain retention from the kick off and restart. Having the ball in our court is important in 7s Rugby,” Ibrahim elaborated.
Of the 36 players picked by SLR’s national selectors, only around 28 at a time, turn up due to various reasons. In addition, the ongoing Mercantile Rugby 7s, the most sought-after competition in the island, has gulped most of the players from the Junior 7s squad, further delaying training.
“Local competitions are happening continuously, the numbers sometimes do not matter, but there has to be consistency when it comes to national squads. There are competitions for schools and clubs and other sectors before and while the national team is picked. This is good in a way, because the players are in good touch. I’m seriously looking at the combination. It’s no use having the best of players in the side, if we cannot find that all-important combination. ‘Sevens’ is a team game and it’s not about individual brilliance. All players should play as a unit. It’s important to have that click among the players for wins”.
Knowing, the competition on August 10, 11 at Kings Park Stadium, is going to be held on an artificial field, with host Hong Kong going to be their toughest rival, the Junior Tuskers’ Head Coach is making appropriate plans.
Training commenced last week, from Monday, but has been put off for a few days for players to take part in the Mercantile Rugby 7s. Come Tuesday, the players will undergo a bronco test before the squad of 15 is finalised. Ibrahim will have 2 full weeks to prepare the side.
“There is a plan, and it is already being practised, when the final selection is made, all the players will know what and how we are going to play. We have a high potential of creating an impression. It’s a good sign for the future as well, as these players will go on to represent the Sri Lanka 7s team very soon,” Ibrahim said.
In 2016, after a 2-legged series, Sri Lanka won the championship under Kevin Dixon, while last year the Junior Tuskers finished runners-up to Hong Kong. Ibrahim has served as a Junior Asiad Head Coach on 3 occasions, but this will be the first time he takes charge of the U-20 7s side.