I will quit laments Godamanne

By Harry Jayachandra

“If they (the selectors) change the management I will not represent my country at next year’s Davis Cup tournament,” said Sri Lanka’s number one player Harshana Godamanna.

Godamanna is based in Thailand and under the tutelage of Dominic Utzinger who coached World Number 1 Roger Federer and Patty Schnyder early in their respective careers. Sri Lanka’s Number One is back in Sri Lanka due to family commitments and will be returning to Thailand in the early part of January.

Speaking to The Sunday Times Godamanna said: “I had a brief conversation with the chairman of selectors P. S. Kumara. The plans he outlined did not convince me at all. I am also disturbed by the fact that there have been divisions on decisions within the selection committee.

I play Davis Cup because I love my country.. And in the last two years we have been just one match away from getting promoted to Division Two. Thus I believe that it is the players that need to be changed and certainly not the management. If things happen the other way around I see no point in playing Davis Cup.”

When asked about his progress, Godamanna in conclusion said: “I have moved up to 1049 in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings. I also played three tournaments apiece in Switzerland and Pakistan. I made it to the quarter finals in two of the tournaments in Pakistan and also won the doubles event in one. Thus you could say I am going in the right direction personally.”