Banned Manilal’s son to contest post of FFSL president
Manil Fernando
Dr. Manil Fernando, the son of former football administrator Manilal Fernando has decided to contest the post of President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
Fernando senior, a former heavyweight of FIFA Executive Committee received a life ban from FIFA in October 2013 after he had appealed to them over an original eight-year ban. In 2015 he lost his appeal to The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to have a life ban overturned.
One of the youngest football administrators, Dr. Manil Fernando has been at the helm of the Kalutara District Football League for the past 10 years. He is also chairman of the FFSL’s Medical Commission. Fernando junior has the support of incumbent President Anura de Silva who is not seeking re-election for the same post. He will contest the post of Secretary General.
Fernando will be challenged by present Secretary General of the FFSL Jaswar Umar who has decided to contest the top post. The FFSL elections for the period 2021 to 2024 will be held on May 30, with the closing date for nominations being April 20.
Former Supreme Court judge Rohini Marasinghe will chair the three-member Election Committee comprising retired High Court judge Sisira Ratnayaka and former Government Agent H.M. Hitisekera.
“I gave my consent to contest the FFSL presidency because the status of Sri Lanka’s has slumped at the international level. After playing the game at school and club, I also gained experience in administration having been president of the football league for a long time. I feel with the support of the government and international help, we can make a difference to the sport of football in the country,” he said.
Football, probably the second richest sports behind cricket in Sri Lanka has suffered heavily in the hands of corrupted administrators over the years and its current standing of 204 out of 210 nations in the world is an indication of how badly the game has been administered by the men in power.
“I have drawn up a football development targeting the 2021-2024 period. I have given priority to the diverse views of experienced people in the sport. I hope to unveil the four-year plan in Sinhala, English and Tamil languages soon. I don’t want to spoil my name by coming into football administration when the sport has hit a low. However, after a request was made by several football leagues, I decided to come forward and contest the post of President. I am confident of winning the election,” he said.
An old boy of Holy Cross College, Kalutara, he represented the school from under-14 to Under-18 teams. He is also a former player of Greenfield SC, Kalutara. Meanwhile, FFSL president Anura de Silva said that he decided to contest the post of Secretary after coming to an agreement with Dr. Manil Fernando.
“We are with the team which is dedicated for the cause of football,” he said.