Unfazed CR&FC willing to face reality
CR&FC unfazed by the player exodus during the coming season mostly to CH&FC, including last year’s captain Omalka Gunaratne, are confident of attracting a young group of players as they set their sights on marking their centenary in 2022.
“It is no different to any other season where players move around. That’s not unusual. We don’t see it as anything exceptional. It is unfortunate that players jump from season to season. If that is the reality then we would have to respond and manage it,” CR&FC President Ted Hiran Muttiah told the Sunday Times.
Wajid Fawmy, Kevin Dixon, Reeza Raffaideen, Janidu Dilshan, Joel Perera, Mithila Perera, Panduka Angammana, Shemal Weerasekera and Udara Gayan have reportedly joined CH&FC along with Gunaratne who described it as a ‘career move’.
“Our intention is to rebuild CR&FC. And if we have to do that with a young group of players we are happy to do that. When senior players and people who have captained last year, suddenly say ‘I am going somewhere else’, I think it is disappointing,” Muttiah said but shrugged off the setback as a reality clubs have to face in the normal course of business.
“Omalka did sign with us but requested a release and we have granted him a release. We could have put our foot down and enforced the contract but we respected his decision. Players believe that their best interests might be served at another club. We will not unreasonably hold them back. After all they are Sri Lanka rugby talent,” said the former Royal, CR&FC and Sri Lanka three quarter.
“It’s like a job. Today rugby is their life in terms of their livelihood for many of them. We should respect that. As a club we need to respond and make the adjustments necessary, to go beyond just the payments,” said Muttiah, who revealed they had plans already in place to enhance the salary structure and give performance-based bonuses to players.
“We have put in place what we believe will address the issue of lack of player loyalty at clubs. Another one is to at least inculcate the values of the club, so that people come to understand that playing for CR&FC means something just beyond the season. The Rugby board has recognised that and we are putting in place a particular framework,” said Muttiah, who is Chief Commercial Officer at SAGT.
“If people don’t have a sense of loyalty, we have to look deep within. We have to take stock and that’s the reality,” he said.
“We are optimistic and we are looking beyond just the coming season because nobody knows when the coming season is going to start. Our sights are set for 2022 and beyond,” said Muttiah.
“We are not unhappy or upset about players moving around. That is the normal course of business. That is the reality we should address. We can’t blame anybody,” he said. “We have a very young side. There will be a few players coming out of schools. We are not against starting afresh and building a new team with people who want to be at the CR&FC.”