Co-existence of sport a must in schools

I remembered the days I was in school and Jaynatha my classmate also known as “Kocky”. Kocky knew more on most subjects and we listened to him to gather knowledge. One day ‘’Kocky’ brought with him an Oval shaped ball to school. The ball as well as the game was new to us who spent most of the time playing cricket with a soft ball. The shape and the game took us by surprise. Kocky taught us how the game was played and the rules that were relevant. We did run after school to be at the front ground to play a game we thought was rugby. It is this beginning that made me interested. Because of my involvement in rugby I did manage to stay another year in the O level class as was allowed then. This is what is now frowned upon under the basis of eligibility. That additional year at school for a sportsman has helped many. It helped me eventually having tasted failure before. Yet schools followed the age criteria very strictly. More self managed than compelled. You had to be underage on the day of the match. One day more and the school did not play you in the team. There are men in many high places that have tasted that additional year in school as well as the discipline and have climbed the ladder to prosperity and fame.

In many schools it is just not this opportunity and the discipline that is lost. Lost are also the chances we had to use the main ground to indulge in a sport of our choice. Today the main ground is out of bounds in most schools except may be for a particular sport. This closes the doors for coexistence. It also shuts out the pride of using the show piece ground. Second class some would say.

Most times you see those who play cricket playing around with a rugby ball. Very often loosening up or when killing time during a rain held up game. Players would be seen passing around the oval shaped ball. Together on a ground interaction becomes inevitable and a new rugby player may be born.

Many took to the game of rugby by chance. They having got a taste stuck there. The skill they possessed and not been averse to taking a risk kept them in the game. By nature the character being of a taker of risks, they often fell on the other side of the book of teachers. It is also common that students who play rugby are not teacher’s pets. They fail to understand that rugby players by nature are those who take a chance. It is that nature that makes them get involved in events that are fun but not to the liking of teachers.

A sport for all has its beginning by chance just as much life is. It however pains to witness that the followers of this game very often are not given the pride of place they deserve. Being at the receiving end of the teachers it is not uncommon to hear “to day I sent eight students out of the class. “Seven of them were ‘ruggers’. Possibly he was referring to rugby players. To add insult to injury most of these players have to track along to another location to practice. Otherwise they will get a corner of a ground not adequate to play a game of netball.

There are some schools where rugby has been their breadwinner as well as being the pride of their toast. They have been fortunate to have been at the receiving end of pamper. Among them are also schools that are among the best but have no ground for the students to play. Many a school match gets into a tight schedule as they try to fit into the grounds that are available. Will the prayers of the school rugby player be answered? The prayer being will we have a place to practice and to play?

Of course unlike today there were not many advisory committees in the game of rugby. Possibly with less knowledge and commitment of tutorial staff they have a place. What goes wrong at times is that they lose sight of the main aim “to play the game” in the spirit that it should be played.

It is sweet music to hear that the SLRFU may get a ground of its own. The President of the SLRFU Nimal Lewke is working on the last lap to get a ground to be developed. Good for the game as we all would say “the SLRFU will have its own ground”. Yet this may not be sufficient to meet the requirements of all who need a place. Will there be a chance that schools will allow the grounds they already have; to be used. Take a look around countries that play cricket and rugby on the same ground. They are doing well in both sports. What requires is not to say no, but to ask how?