Rover Pinpoints..

How come the appointed captain of a sporting event played at a faster pace from a leading girls' school in Colombo is denied the right to her duties in that capacity. Is the school head aware of this situation. 

Earning at will

Ninety percent of the coaches engaged in a popular form of sport are earning in thousands, while the other ten per cent are doing a honourary job. Why is that much of donations are given to them and for what purpose. An inquiry should spill it all. It's never too late to put the house in order. 

Why the same Coach from 1996 to 2001?

Believe it or not, the Coach who has been going on all the foreign tours and returning without any success to his credit has appointed himself as the Coach for the men's basketball tour to Hong Kong in August 2001. Is he trying to promote basketball. 

Why was his name not proposed

Sri Lanka Basketball Federation held its Exco recently to appoint the officials for the foreign tours for 2001. All were appointed except the Coach and Asst. Coach as there were no nominations from the Coaches' association of which the self appointed coach is the President. Can Coaches' Association dictate terms to the SLBF in appointing the Coaches? Over to you President SLBF! 

Why young talented Coaches ignored? 

Rover is informed by the young talented coaches whose teams have won several tournaments in Sri Lanka of not being given an opening to show their talent in foreign tournaments? An analysis of the teams that have won the School Basketball tournament and the Mercantile tournament would indicate the self-appointed Coach has failed to build a team able to qualify for the final round matches. How is he eligible for this tour? Over to you President, SLBF & Chairman National Sports Council!

Who are the Selectors?

How is that the self-appointed Coach is conducting trials at the Sugathadasa Stadium without the selectors being present? The players are wondering who will select the team. Is it the self-appoint Coach or the selectors who have not attended the trials ask the players? 

What is National Sports Council doing? 

Is the National Sports Council there to advise the Minister of Sports of the standard of Basketball in Sri Lanka or allow the people who are interested in foreign tours to collect funds from the Public and go on holiday trip abroad in the name of Basketball? Over to you Chairman NSC!

Pressurised

The outstation District Foundation for Sports, in pushing its way around has been able to hold a musical show to collect funds at a ground which allows only cricket, to be played with hockey and football being out of bounds, since it damages the grounds. How come this ground was given for the musical show. Furthermore each businessman was ordered to buy a ticket priced at Rs 500/- and also sell a book of tickets. What a way with the land's long arm having its way. Now even money is being collected to pay the band which was in attendance at this show. 

Bad sportsmanship

The rugger match played in Kandy last week saw a former senior official of the Colombo Club turning boisterous and using unwanted language. To add insult to injury was the way a Kandy player behaved by throwing the ball at the referee at the conclusion of the match. What action does the officials of the Kandy think of taking to ensure good discipline. 

Who is dictating terms to whom

The awards after the first one-day match between Sri Lanka 'A' and Pakistan 'A' played at Moratuwa which Sri Lanka won, were made on the same day without the permission of the BCCSL. The awards for the second and third one-dayers were made at the completion of the third at the Premadasa Stadium, a fax from the BCCSL states. 

Rules twisted

The big mouth supported by his association, is apparently twisting the rules to pick the participants for the SAF Games to be held in Pakistan in September this year. Earlier they insisted that all athletes to qualify for selection should take part in the trials. Is this rule being relaxed now, to favour their fancied choice. 

Pleading

A trip to Indonesia by the big mouth and his able assistant in position, saw on their return plead with a much recognised official to join the bandwagon in the hosting of the Asian Championships. This has been done on the instructions of a top official of the AAA who holds this local official of repute in high esteem. This goes on to prove that though the locals do not need him, he is respected and recognised abroad. 

Facts are stubborn

A turncoat, not in position to stomach the truth, calling himself the convenor of a dissolved sport is stating that all stories written in the Rover Column are baseless and written without any clarification from them.

Why clarify from them when this is a column having all the evidence to stand by its stories and also blaming of supporting the Minister with the support of the Royal clan. Least he forgets, did he not come pleading to write stories against his supporter? Does he also forget that he was kicked out and failed to get elected under a former President to the exco.

Not approved

A top Sports Ministry Official told Rover, that they have not approved the new selection committee for Table Tennis in Sri Lanka. This has been done, because senior officials are nominated to this sport. No vice presidents, secretary or assistant secretary could sit on the selection committee but members of the committee could do so, the Ministry Official added.

Aussies continue as untouchables

Steve Waugh's latest book released at the end of last year is titled, "Never Satisfied." The diary of a record breaking year. It commences with the defeats in Sri Lanka in 1999 and then the spate of wins in both forms of the game with Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India, New Zealand, South Africa, all experiencing the wrath of the Aussies. Previously, Waugh has complied seven tour diaries, commencing from the Ashes tour of 1993. Never Satisfied - suggests the Australian thirst for success. Its no quarter asked, no quarter given - simply precise preparation, application and carrying out plans articulately.

The concluded triangular series did not provide pulsating finishes. In most cases the winning team ran away with the honours quite comfortably. Once again, as it happen so often in England, the pitches favoured the seam bowlers earlier. Although into mid season, pitches that looked good for batting and eventually was good for bowling, gave the bowlers sufficient in the initial twenty overs, did tilt the scales, when the bowlers were clever and accurate. England bowed out of contention two-thirds of the way into the preliminary round. Their opponents were two of the better One Day sides, but their performance must be a major worry to their management and supporters. With the next World Cup now looming within sight the English will have to round up a far more competitive outfit to have any chance of having a crack at the One Day plum.

Pakistan continued to perform in their hot and cold fashion. Fresh after their resounding Test win over the English, they continued their demolition of the home team, with captain Waqar Younus inspiring from the front. The decision to bat first on winning the toss in the final could be questioned. They did the same in 1999, in World Cup final and were rocked by the Aussie bowlers and conceded defeat tamely. It was a repeat performance. Half the team was dismissed for 92 runs with only half the allotted overs complete. Only the classy Saeed Anwer and Inzaman-Ul-Huq offered some resistance. Scoring twenties was inadequate. They needed one or two of the top order to really fire and set the opposition a target of 250 runs or more. 

Having been dismissed for 152 in 42.3 overs was completely confidence chattering for the Pakistani's. They bowled many short pitch and half volley deliveries which were duly punished by the rampant Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting. They coasted home comfortably, yet again.

McGrath, Gillespie, Bret Lee (pace), Ian Harven (medium pace) and Shane Warne (leg spin) formed the Australian bowling. In terms of ability, variety and experience, not much more could be asked for. Then the batting, comprising of the Waugh twins, Ponting, Bevan, Gilchrist and all the reserve strength makes the Aussies absolutely formidable. All these players should still be around when the World Cup is played in South Africa. At this stage they have little to worry about.

Geoff Armstrong who contributes the introduction to Steve Waugh's book- "Never Satisfied"- concludes with this para. Steve and his players love the cricket and the camaraderie, and revel in each others success as few, if any, have done before them. They are a happy and a mighty team. The title of this book does not mean they are hard to please, but simply they are extremely ambitious. They want to keep winning, establish new records and constantly set themselves new standards of excellence. As Steve puts it: it is not sufficient to be merely good, when it is possible to be great".

Shirantha the little swim hero

About his incredible feats he told us the following Story. "I'm a student of Gr. 4 at St. Peter's. I am indebted to you all for the support I get from you. My trainer is Mahesh Karunaratne, and together with my parents I thank the trio for all the moral support given to me. I hope to improve in my swimming."

Water Polo title for St. Bridget's

St. Bridget's beat Bishop's by 2 goals to 1 in the knock-out semi-final and then went on to beat Otters by 5 goals to nil to win the title.

Manahari Wahalathanthri scored three goals while Desmi Perera and Louisa Alexander scored one goal each with Sachini William outstanding at goal.

Supporting them were coach, Gehan de Chickera, teachers in charge Mrs. Mallika William and Mrs. Lalitha Liyanage and the Principal Rev. Sister Mary Francine who gave the encouragement necessary.

Seminar for umpires 

All new umpires will be registered on this day. Gamini Jayasinghe is the Chairman, Umpires Committee of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation.

Jinasena as Chairman

The other members of the Selection Committee are: David Blacker, Ananda Wimaladharma, R. Illangakoon and Andrew David. The new committee's first job will be to select the team for the Asian Sailing championships to be held in Korea in September this year.

'Kalu'- Magic seals Royal's Bradby win

By Bernie Wijesekera

In the first leg Royal won 12 - 6 at Bogambara.

The match was set to an exciting forwards battle with the conditions underfoot ideal for the respective forwards to revel.

The first half was evenly contested. After the first leg both teams had much to learn - the commitments by the respective back divisions. Both teams kept the ball moving despite having to handle a slippery ball. The 'Lions' had the edge in the initial half where they ran amok with their ferocious play in the loose. Winning - much of the good ball and some loose heads. But they lapsed during vital stages of the game. The breezy Royal line was closely marked. The Trinity defence was impregnable in this half.

Both teams in this half fluffed with their spot kicks. Just before the short whistle Trinity counter-attacked and was on the verge of scoring with the line staring at them, but a forward was spied off side. Possesion was shared.

In the second half Royal coach Lagata, who will take over the Havelocks coaching from July 9 had prepared the team for all eventualities. Skipper Haren Kaluarachchi, the daring centre who led from the front proved that Royal was a quality team, to wrest back the Bradby Shield from their arch rivals. He scored the only try of the match with a sizzling 30 yard run, when Trinity's winger S.B. Dissanayake fumbled the ball. Dev Wijewardena added the extra points.

Earlier after few lapses in the first half Dev arrowed three spot kicks and accounted for 11 points for Royal's winning score.

Ironically in the ninth minute of the second half three players were sent to the sin-bin simultaneously for throwing punches by Ref. Dilroy Fernando. Two from Trinity, hooker Prageeth Wasalatantri and centre Shamila Jayasinghe, and Royal's fly half, Ishan Perera. 

At this stage Trinity lost much of their fire and power and conceded ten points with their defence in disarray. In the end they lost the match and the Bradby.

Dudley Fernando, who led the Royal team in 1958 to wrest back the Bradby Shield was the chief guest.

Fernando, presented the Bradby Shield to Royal skipper Haren Kaluarachchi.

In the under-17 match Trinity defeated Royal by 10 points (two tries) to nil after leading 5-0 at the half to regain the Sumitharatchi Trophy after 1996.

The two tries were scored by flanker I. A. Jayasekera and fly half M. R. M. Buckman.

Referee. Samrath Fernando. 

In the first leg, Royal U-17 won 15-12.

In brief

Rain halts Henman victory charge

Henman had won the third set 6-0 after hitting a purple patch of form against the Croatian wildcard to go two sets to one ahead, and was leading 2-1 in the fourth when rain began to fall at 1720 GMT.

Ivanisevic had won the first 7-5 and Henman took the second set tiebreak 8-6 on his second set point to draw level.

The winner will play Australian Pat Rafter in today's final after the third seed beat American second seed Andre Agassi 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6 in the first semifinal on Centre Court.

Macqueen to stand down 

Macqueen made the announcement after his side's record 35-14 victory in the second test to level the series at 1-1.

Gilchrist slaughters England bowlers

Gilchrist's innings overshadowed captain Steve Waugh and Damian Martyn's innings of 105 each giving Australia a lead of 282.

Part time bowler Mark Butcher was the pick of the England bowlers capturing 4 for 42. 

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