A game of football is basically made of the players, coaches and referees who entertain the crowd. Each category on its own is important, woven together makes the game necessarily richer in quality.,
A coach is in a way a pedagogue, a parent, a padre - sermoning and soothing, caring and correcting. Unfortunately, these aspects are not given due weightage by our new crop of coaches. Pregnant in knowledge does not necessarily mean positive in production. The whole exercise needs years of study, self discipline and application.
 |
| Each school and club should have a trained coach, be it in the highest division or the lowest. (Pic by Amila Prabodha) |
The quality of their mental and psychological approach to players and training, comes only through years in the profession at national or international level. Book knowledge, theoretical principles, licenses, certificates, though calculably important, should only reinforce the inherent flair and initiative which a coach must possess. By precept and example, he must rest - high above his charges in conduct, both on and off the field which is lacking with the present day’s coaches. While the game has developed from humble beginnings to that of a major national sport, we have not produced quality coaches in proportion to this growth. The ideal situation is for each school and club to have a trained coach, be it in the highest division or the lowest. Then only will technical excellence in the sport reach high standards.
In the long and distinguished history of football in Sri Lanka, many coaches have liberally contributed to the growth and development of the sport, over the years. Battling against unrelenting odds, they have given their time, energy and wealth for the sustenance of the game. Some have sacrificed their professional interest to serve the cause of football, while others have pursued the game with almost religious fervour.
When the game was played at international level in other countries, their coaches were highly paid, whereas our coaches in the past did a honourary job, amidst constraints and other impediments, such as lack of grounds, limited hours of training. inadequate nourishment and training facilities they have performed creditably. D.S. Abraham, S. Dura, T.S.J. Packeerally, V. Nadarajah, Albert Fernando, Neville Abeygunawardana and Lawrence Fernando from the senior mentors who gave their services for the betterment of the sports for quite a long time.
I had the privilege to play under the guidance and coaching of four of these brilliant coaches, namely V. Nadarajah, Albert Fernando, Neville Abeygunawardana and Lawrence Fernando. Each of them had special qualities and abilities in handling players. They produced skillful quality players to the country and achieved successful results here and abroad in the football field.
V. Nadarajah was trained by the famous 1st division club — Manchester United in England in the year 1962. On his return from England he coached the two leading schools in Colombo — Zahira College and St Joseph. Both these schools performed extremely well during this period. Zahira College became the unbeaten side among schools and toured India. Nadarajah organized many football workshops in school to impart his knowledge for the young school players. He was appointed as the National Coach in 1969. While training our national team, he adopted the same style of fast. attacking robust football what he observed and learned in UK. These tactics helped him to beat that professional English Club Southampton F.C. captained by Terry Pane by 2-1 on our own soil.
Albert Fernando was the only Sri Lankan to proudly sport a trainer’s licence from the home of football, Brazil. After returning from Brazil his first assignment was to coach the Royal Ceylon Air Force soccer team in 1966 of which I was a playing member. Air Force clinched the Inter-Service Championship for the first time in 1966. For over 10 years this championship had been taken by the army men.
I had the honour of being a pupil of his when he handled the Inter-Service Champion - the Royal Ceylon Air Force in 1966. Watching my performance while playing for the Air Force, being the National Coach, he spotted me for national honour.
Neville Abeygunawardana - My long and close associate with Neville both as a player and a pal gives me the edge over the others to comment on his achievement and success in the field of football. I had the privilege of associating with Neville for over 35 years. Eleven years at Wellawatte Spinning and Weaving Mills and the balance period of Mercantile Credit Group. I also had the opportunity of touring that famous European tour under Neville as a National coach, along with my brother M.M. Hassimdeen — Asia's best Goal Keeper.
As my coach as well as of many others. Neville was peerless in his profession. I have great regard and respect for him, firstly as an astute tactician on the field and secondly for his wide knowledge of the game:
As a National coach, he was simply brilliant and gave this nation many moments of pride, joy and elation. It was under Neville, Sri Lanka won the first international soccer encounter in this soil in 1964, beating the strong Pakistan national foot ball team 3-1. He also guided the Sri Lankan team to beat various top European clubs here and abroad.
Lawrence Fernando — a product of St Benedict;s College, represented Sunrise F.C as a goal keeper. For his superb and brave goalkeeping he was selected to represent the Colombo Football League which toured Moscow in the late 1960. He got his FIFA coaching license in 1969 after completing his training in Japan. He was appointed as the National Football Coach in 1970 which he held for several years. During this period as coach Sri Lanka won the famous Quadrangular Football Tournament for the first time. We became unbeaten champions beating strong State teams from India. He also guided the Sri Lanka team to become joint-Champions at the Vital Trophy Soccer Tournament held in India in 1975. |
E-mail
