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Sports

Kenny wins Mobil Sailing Regatta
By Annesley Pereira
The ever-green Joseph Kenny outsailed 17 others to win the BOD class single handedly at the Mobil Sailing Regatta concluded at the Bolgoda Lake last Sunday.

Taking the first runner's-up position was one time winner Anil Gunawardena with the dark horse Lalin Jeerasinghe, Sri Lanka's Olympic and Asian Games representative, in third spot.

Hemantha Warnasuriya, General Manager of Mobil, gave away the Champion's Trophy to Joseph Kenny while Srilal Kahandawela, the Accountant gave away the trophy to Anil Gunawardena.

Bakers mini-cricket helps less privileged children
Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Johannesburg
South Africa, after returning to international cricket has made it more competitive with their participation. They have started on the right track by trying to promote the game among the less privileged children from all communities. Nelson Mandela, set the ball rolling and gave all support in their endeavour by taking the game to the disadvantaged children and encouraged the efforts of the organisers, about togetherness among all races.

The Bakers Mini Cricket Academy started in 1981, has done a great service by spreading its gospel far and wide. In its wake has built a bridge of fellowship among all races via cricket. It was started in a small way. Since then it has gone from strength to strength and is on a firm footing with a Bakers Sponsorship package giving opportunities to schools in the less privileged areas with men and material to wield the willow and help S.A. to emerge as one of the best cricketing nations in the world.

The poor are living in abject poverty. Seeing was believing. Had the opportunity of making a visit to Alexandera with a new found friend here Joseph TEKANE, who loves cricket. He took me to the African township - Alexandra.

The kids were playing cricket on the streets, where the likes of Makhaya Ntini emerged. Today he is in the national team. It was heartrending to know what life is all about and suffering put aside cricket.

This is something like the kids playing cricket in the totems. But they lacked the support unlike here. This was what the late president of the Cricket Board Gamini Dissanayake said, 'I see kids playing cricket in the tea estates and in the paddyfields. Would like to see one of them playing for the country in the future. It still has to become a reality due to no proper infrastructure, brought about by a power struggle. Had a discussion with one of the officials in the S.A. media section.

He said, Walter Masimula, a less privileged lad rose from Alexandra Township. Thanks to Bakers 'Mini Cricket' rose to the heights of a senior provincial cricketer. It began in 1987 and was earmarked to be a top player for the future. In 1995, toured England with the S.A. Under -19 team. Back in England to play club cricket in Surrey. But his untimely death was a great loss to S.A. cricket. He was a model for under-privileged cricketers.

The late Hansie Cronje, who led the country from the front contributed much for the uplift of the less privileged society, via cricket. He, too was an avid supporter of the Bakers Mini Cricket Academy. He never shirked his commitments for the promotion and development of the game.

He travelled all over S. Africa to give the less privileged to enjoy a better tomorrow through this humanitarian project. He always made his presence felt, be it at Sharpeville etc., he had personal problems, Hansie stood by his Faith. "No one is a paragon of Virtue. "Despite his image being tarnished and faced with setbacks he still continued with his mission to help the havenots. In the last few years was depending much of his time was spent in George area.

My visit to Alexandra, the youth still rever Hansie for his contributions to uplift the life of the poor. He assisted the Bakers Mini Cricket and made avenues for all races to live with amity via cricket. The Academy started 21 years ago has opened the game of cricket into the lives of thousands of S.A. children, to enjoy.

The players who made grade through Mini Cricket - Greame Smith an elegant lefthander, Justin Ontong are in the limelight. Smith is in the national team, while Ontong took part in the ICC Champions trophy staged Sri Lanka recently. Hashim Amala, who played for Rest of Africa against Sri Lanka, is another product from Bakers. He captained the S.A. under-19 World Cup team. Jonty Rhodes is one of the most popular among the less affluent cricketers was in liaison with Hansie to help the poor.

The success of S.A. cricket is due to their total commitment for the game and encourage the youngsters to go places - that, too with proper planning. No ad-hoc decisions. They have forgotten the past.

Its just a memory.
Former Transvaal player Hoosain Ayob, who played from 1961-'76 as a fast bowler. He was the first Director of coaching for Bakers Mini Cricket. Currently he is the ICC's Development Director for cricket in S.A. and has taken the Bakers concept throughout the country. Learning the game from an early age is a definite advantage, says Ashwell Prince, one of the products from Bakers. He was included to play against Sri Lanka at Wanderers.

Marvan praised for his leadership in 2nd Test
Bernie Wijesekera reporting from Johannesburg
Marvan Atapattu, the gritty opener, who came in as stand-in skipper due to an injury caused to Sanath Jayasuriya, came in for praise at the way he handled the team when the chips were down. It was a great game of cricket that was on show for five days after Sri Lanka's pathetic performance at the Wanderers in the first Test. It was a best effort by a Lankan team here. Sri Lanka went down fighting by three wickets to South Africa and sounded the warning that even on foreign soil they are capable to turning in fine performances.

In the year 2000/01 Sri Lanka lost both Tests by innings. Omar Henry, the Chairman of the S. African selection panel, who watched the nerve-tingling game at the Centurion Park commended Marvan's leadership qualities. He handled the bowlers exceptionally well, despite a measly target to defend. "In my opinion before long he should be the regular captain", he said. "You see half the battle is won, if you have understanding and good relationship with your teammates. Sri Lanka, is rich in talent, it has to be harnessed at the grassroots level, with a proper infrastructure. The selectors have a responsible role to play with total commitment. The entire panel is watching the game. No outside influence. But work within the parameters of the UCB, for a common cause to uplift the game at international level", said Omar Henry.

Q. How do you pick the team, I asked from Henry.
A. If there is a talented youngster, he should be given the opportunity of playing in two to three games to prove his mettle. Not as tourists. Imagine seven pacemen on this tour!. Some of them hardly getting a bowl even at the nets, or proper training before they embarked on this tour, by the 'so called' fast bowlers clinic. The calling of Ruchira Perera, for over-stepping is a good example. Jayasuriya or stand-in captain cannot perform miracles. Dilhara Fernando, despite plagued by his run-up broke the S.A. top order with sheer determination.

Even former S. African fast bowler Fannie de Valliers commended Marvan, leading from the front and Dilhara's valour. Atapattu, said it doesn't matter who captains,. Let's play for the country and for the right seasons. On the longer run all other issues are forgotten. Before the second Test I met Marvan at the Hotel. "Forget the first Test", he said . "Let's fight back with an unstinted team effort and Sri Lanka could still be a force to be reckoned with".

Sri Lanka nearly turned tables for the first time in S. Africa. It's the batting that let Sri Lanka down. If South Africa had a target of about 200 runs, the Lankans could have pulled this game off. This could be achieved only in a Test match, said Barry Richards and Pat Symcox almost in unison. To them Sri Lanka is their favourite country.

Kumar Sangakkara, the exciting little left-hander was batting extremely well on 89. He should have curbed his impetuosity in fading light and stayed at the wicket. He could have served the team's cause and helped himself to a big score. Kumar played a bad shot and gifted the wicket and the S. Africans accepted it gleefully. There were questionable decisions where the Lankans suffered due to bad judgement by the umpires. South Africa too suffered as a result. But for Sri Lanka it was worse. Lankan skipper Marvan took it in the correct spirit. But never made excuses. He said we batted badly. If you don't lose then you don't know how to win. The Lankans are held in high esteem here for the one-day series.

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