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Rugby Talk
What is “King of Kandy” upto?
By Vimal Perera
Who is he who labels himself as the ‘King of Kandy”. The maverick rugby player’s name comes up often in the rugby circuit as they whisper about “Simpkin” the National coach calling it a day. There is also a question about the non availability of Dilanka Wijesekera. The version touted officially is that he has decided to stay out due to injury.

Other sources claim, the versatile player has been harassed and insulted. In both instances the player mentioned as being responsible is the self styled king. He may not be the successor to Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe the last king of Kandy. But in his delusion he is a king. Is this a situation arising from a state of mind or a fantasy suffered due to the want of being the centre of attraction? Or did old George misinterpret the communication of the King who may not have expressed himself adequately speaking in a language foreign to him.

There can be many reasons attributed and many arguments put forward. The bottom line is that the current fiasco has forced Sri Lankan rugby to back pedal. This is just a few months if not days after the walkout that set the clock in backward motion. As the issue was taking its place in history the man who took centre stage is in the news again.

A thorn in your side if not taken care of appropriately is bound to surface on and off. Like a cancer it will sap all strength, leaving the empty shell. The end result will be that rugby will suffer. For records, Simpkin has quit due to personal reasons. Jude the manager has not heard anything. Therefore technically there is nothing one can do. To my simple mind there is yet much that can be done. If attitude is a problem, this must be taken account of if and when consideration is given to select a team. A one of a kind may not be the best for the team. The future of the game is more important than to prop up a sagging image of an uncrowned head.

The behaviour follows a suspended sentence that has been handed out. Today’s action is only an indication of the individual who probably believes ‘I can get away with anything’. The council must not make itself look as though they are made of double-jointed vertebrae.

Sri Lankan rugby was on its way up. Players have been performing well and playing as a team. Why is it that here are problems now? Has the sovereign mentality been the cause?

On the other hand I would have expected the coach to have been more responsible. Leave if that is your wish. But that must be done in a manner that would have discharged the responsibility. At least a report of what happened would have been in order. The managers of teams must be more vigilant and provide information for the betterment of the game.

They must not act as though they have been discharged from the school of the differently abled. Another version that is being added on to the buzz is about the methods of training. There has been too much emphasis on fitness, forgetting this is sevens and not a fifteen a side. These comments are attributed to the players and to some pundits of the game. It may be relevant to read the views of Gordon Tietjens who is considered a miracle man among New Zealand’s array of sports coaches. The Times (NZ) says “Renowned for his emphasis on brutal training sessions Tietjens also manages to develop the same kind of team spirit…..

Tietjens speaking on preparation says “in sevens every thing revolves around general play, so you need to have players who have speed and who are superbly fit. It is important that you share workload across the team so that every team member is fit enough to contribute. Particularly off the ball. I am very demanding on fitness, I’ll train players in a fatigue state as I put huge emphasis on play off the ball.” The accomplishment of the All Blacks in Sevens is living proof of the success of his methods.

Where to from here is the next question. To taste success in the forthcoming encounters with China and Hong Kong should be the aim. C.P. Abeygunawardnea who takes over the team needs all the support to take the Lankan lads further ahead. May be the Union can look to strengthen his hand. CR & FC coach Grant Dwyer might be able to give some assistance. I am sure the club and the coach will oblige if approached. The union has been in the recent past working together with the clubs on the road to success. The moment has arrived to lend a hand in support.

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