| National
selectors should be present at all matches - Kumar Rodrigo
By Shamseer Jaleel
"I think the best players are not selected. For example take
the national selectors: they are not present at most of the matches.
When top school sides are in action they are there in their numbers.
In my view we can compete in Rugby worldwide though our players
are small made. In the 2000 Asiad we became 3rd in Asia and we did
very well in the World Cup held in Chile beating some topsides like
Belgium. So they should monitor players all over the country such
as Galle, Ratnapura, Anuradahapura and Polonnaruwa rather than concentrating
only on schools from Colombo and Kandy" said the secretary
of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association speaking to
the Sunday Times with regard to the present standards of Sri Lankan
schools rugby.
Kumar Rodrigo who stepped in to the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football
Association (SLSRFA) as treasurer in 1994 held this post for 3 years.
Later in 1999 he became the Secretary of the SLSRFA and is holding
the important post for the last 5 years. Presently Kumar is the
Master-In-Charge for Rugby Football at Ananda College. Sunday Times:
How many schools are registered with the SLSRFA playing in the under19
segment?
Kumar Rodrigo: There are about 60 schools participating
in the division 1 and 2. In the top division there are 28 teams
and in the bottom division there are 32.
ST:
Why are there no teams from Avissawela, Galle and Ratnapura though
the governing body Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has spent
so much money for the development of the game in those areas?
KR: There are some very good players in Sabaragamuwa and
Galle area at junior level rugby (Under 13 and 15). Once these lads
come to the Under 19 level they will be seen in action at a higher
level. Presently Eheliyagoda Central and St Aloysius College are
playing in the second division.
ST:
Though the country produced some quality school boys in the caliber
of Hisham Abdeen, Shah Dole, Imthi Marikkar, Pradeep Lakshantha,
Nizam Jamaldeen, Lasitha Gunaratne and Alfred Hansmen etc. there
aren't any in the recent years any reason for that?
KR: I think the best players are not selected. For example
take the national selectors: they are not present at most of the
matches. When a top school side plays they are in numbers. In my
view we can compete in Rugby worldwide though our players are small
made. In 2000 Asiad we became 3rd in Asia and we did very well in
the World Cup held in Chile beating some topsides like Belgium.
So they should monitor players all over the country such as Galle,
Ratnapura, Anuradahapura and Polonnaruwa rather than concentrating
only on Colombo and Kandy.
ST:
What kind of development programmes have the schools section done
in the last 5 years?
KR: The governing body SLRFU is conducting the entire development
program in the country with IRB (International Rugby Board) funding
the projects. We in the school sections mainly concentrate in conducting
the tournaments at all age groups in the Under13, 15, 17 and 19
levels. We conduct Seven-a-side, Ten-a-side and fifteen a side tournaments
for all the schools in the country.
ST:
What are your main obstacles?
KR: Firstly finding sponsors to conduct the tournaments.
This is a major problem as so far only Singer Sri Lanka and Nestle
have come forward in looking after the schools segment. Secondly
we don't have an office to operate from and we need a permanent
employee who can do the administration part. We sacrifice our time
because we love the game so much. But I should say that the governing
body President Mohan Balasuriya and the past Secretary Nalin De
Silva and the present Secretary Isvahan Omar have recently given
us permission to operate from the SLRFU Headquarters.
ST:
Last season most of the Club matches and the important school matches
clashed. Have you all done something to avoid this in order to attract
more crowds in order to get better gate collections?
KR: Yes, we encountered some clashes last year but this
year we have programmed in such a way that there wont be clashes.
We have scheduled most of the tournament matches during weekdays.
ST:
When will the school season start?
KR: We will start on 16 June and go on till 1 August. Then
the President Trophy quarter final games will be worked from 13-18
August, semi finals on 27 August and the grand final on 4 September.
ST:
What t is your view on players changing schools in order to continue
their rugby career?
KR: I think one cannot find fault with the players. End
of the day what matters is that the particular player is going to
represent our motherland. One more thing is if that school can look
after that player, provide necessary facilities and find them employment
after his school career that is what that ruggerite will look for.
ST:
Have you got anything more to add?
KR: I like to thank our long standing sponsors Nestle and
Singer for coming forward this year to sponsor, request more institutions
to come forward and help School's Rugby and in turn it will help
the country to produce some top quality players who can compete
at International level and one day we can be part of the Rugby World
Cup. We also going to start a training programme and will introduce
Cadet Referees who will officiate in the junior level matches at
Uder13 and Under 15. Once they gain experience we are hoping to
introduce them for the Under 17 level too. |
