Ex-National Football Captain now a grave digger at 37
Channa was a cynosure whereever he played at all levels, but his present state is a total opposite
Another day dawns in Sri Lanka’s southern city of Galle and Ediri Bandanage or, E.B. Channa, the former National Football Captain, begins his daily routine. A father of 3 daughters, Channa, at 37, helps around the house a little before donning a Football jersey from his collection in a career that spanned almost 2 decades. Unlike in the recent past, Channa is not headed for any ground for training, instead, he heads to the Dadella Cemetery Grounds, approximately 2 km from Galle city centre. That too, not to attend a funeral or pay homage to a deceased but, attend to his ‘duties’ as a grave digger, which has been his lot for the past four months and 11 days. This is Channa’s first job, after committing himself totally to Football, as a striker for Sri Lanka and with over 8 clubs, both at domestic and international level.
Unlike the popular playmaker in Football that he once was, Channa, at present is fully focused on his new role which, he says, he is enjoying.
“I have tried my best to secure a job and, after running up and down for years, this is where I finally ended up, at a cemetery. This is where we humans come to our eternal rest, and I have come here when I’m still alive and a kicking. Many may think I harbour regrets but I don’t. At least, I have a secure income to take care of my family,” a weather-beaten, yet active and positive Channa told the Sunday Times. For one who still has some years of Football left in him, Channa has donned the Sri Lanka jersey over 100 times and has played over 800 club games. He has scored 53 times for Sri Lanka, of which 13 are rated as FIFA games, and over 500 goals for various clubs.
'I have my mistakes but I cannot regret'
In his present occupation he has dug 15 graves. The last being his aunt’s, working together with two of his colleagues, who well understand Channa’s plight. ”As I’m well known for my achievements in Football, for many, my job is a shame. So, I always make it a point to shun the public and, whenever there is a funeral, my colleagues make sure I don’t catch anyone’s attention. They know this is my bread and butter now, and I try my utmost to be just another worker here. Nevertheless, I’m still active as a Footballer, having already scored 4 goals for the club I represent,” he added. Channa is presently an important cog at Blue Star Football Club, a top ranked side that competes in the main competitions conducted by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL).
Since 1998, Channa has been an important player for the country as well as his former clubs Old Joes, Pettah United, Negombo Youth, Ratnam and Super Sun. He also has played for Maldivian sides Hurriyya Huraa, Victory Male, Maaziya Male and BG Sports and Dempo SC Goa of India.
Why, is an outstanding Footballer like Channa, digging graves and cleaning graveyards, when he could have secured greener pastures. Was it self inflicted or his own seeking? Was he irresponsible or, was it the lapses within the ‘establishment’ in Sri Lanka or, did Channa fantasize and make believe the Europe’s Football system, where players are treated with royalty, descending here sooner or later. ”I really don’t know how and why I got here.
I was just 14 when I was spotted by the National coaches for an Asian Championship and since then, I was part and parcel of Sri Lanka Football. I completed my GCE Ordinary Level exam, but didn’t focus on my studies, as I was totally dedicated to the sport I love. Perhaps, I dreamed a lot of being a professional player like in Europe, hoping the scenario in Sri Lanka too would change for the better, with time. When I started playing, Sri Lanka was ranked 123, and now we are ranked 192. That itself shows where we have headed as a sport, leave aside the players,” he explained.
“When Sri Lanka was ranked better in the world, Channa and some of the other prominent players were welcomed with open arms by overseas clubs in the region. They were offered princely sums of about US$ 400 to 500 per month. But with the gradual decline in world rankings, the amounts Sri Lankan Footballers received too went down proportionately.
E.B. Channa's Football career spans over two decades. He captained Sri Lanka in 2012 and four years later found shelter at a ground alien to him - Pix by Amila Gamage
In addition, the domestic club structure too was not geared to transform local Football to at least become semi-professional.” ”When I started, I received a monthly allowance of Rs 7,500, while the highest I’ve received was Rs 15,000. Meanwhile, clubs recruit players but don’t pay as much as one would expect. I grew up and mastered the game dreaming I would end up a Footballer in the West, where the game is professional. But now, if I don’t fall ill and attend work daily, I can take home around Rs 23,000 per month. I also get a monthly pay, which is a little more than my monthly salary from Blue Star to make things easier. Earlier, I used to play in 7-a-side tournaments on weekends but, with the job I find it difficult to play now,” Channa, whose name was linked to match fixing at one stage, stated.
“I would never betray my jersey, my country and the game I love. I have been asked by certain individuals at club level, not to play in a particular game or, don’t attack too much, but I have straightaway told them, they are calling the wrong number. I was once interrogated by the CID when they visited my house but, found I had no role in any misdemeanours. Even the player who revealed things, told the Police that I’m innocent. I would never do anything like that to tarnish my image.” Beginning his playing career at Vidyaloka College in Galle, he moved to All Saints College also in the vicinity, dreaming of a bright future in football. He met Mohamed Hashim, an avid Football promoter, who guided him towards the correct pathway of the game.
As a Footballer, Channa mastered and rose to be one of the best in the country but, as an individual, he has not been a successful man. He partly blames the FFSL hierarchy for not giving the game and its players the recognition and benefits it deserves. As Channa points out, he is not the first and only National Footballer to find himself ‘at odds’ with life. ”There are many, and of late, like me. There is another National player, a former Sri Lanka Youth Captain, who is an attendant at a government hospital. They prefer to keep a low profile, which I too did for some time. However, many urged me to break my silence, at least for the sake of future players. I thought I had hit my low in life, until I met a former Karate champion, whom I used to read about in the newspapers in my youth, selling belts in Fort some months ago.
That was when I was hunting for a job. I had very little money, but I bought a belt from him after chatting to him for close to an hour. I haven’t still worn that belt, though I have kept it within sight at home, as an inspiration, as a reminder there are others worse off than I am.” Today, Channa lives in a rented place, more or less a shop, in Ambalanwatte, Galle, with his family. His father, a well known face in Galle, is a pineapple seller and his mother is a cleaner at a tourist outlet in the Galle Fort. He is the eldest to a brother and a sister, and has friends around him through thick and thin. Before making his move as a grave digger, Channa was employed at Hirdarmani Garments, but only to play Football. He and 3 other Footballers were employed by a well known establishment dealing with vehicles, but only as a corporate image.
After striving for years, it was one of his fans, the former Mayor of Galle, Kelum Seneviratne, who reluctantly gave Channa a place at the Dadella Cemetery as a labourer, as there was no other option left even for him. Channa thanked him dearly for giving him a lifeline. ”Having done this job for over four months now, I’ve learn’t a lot about life. I may have made mistakes in my life as an individual. Maybe, I could have managed myself much better, but in comparison with Cricketers and Rugby players, Footballers are the poorest. Maybe our monthly pay is something that others spend within hours. Added to that, there is a huge disparity between officials and players in Football. If Football is to improve, the level and value of the players too must appreciate. The FFSL should be doing more to protect its players by helping them beyond the game too.
The players are a insecure lot. Some work and play, while most are fully into the game, and when they call it a day as players, they don’t have a place in life. I would have loved to obtain a coaching licence, but that too, the FFSL does not give preference to former National players. I don’t know why, probably I dreamed wrong, but now, I’d like to live to see my children grow up and reach great heights in life. Even this job is not permanent. I don’t know if I’d lose it in a month or two or, I get an extension. I simply don’t want future Footballers to find themselves in this hole,” stated Channa, with a glint in his eyes.
What Channa failed to understand right throughout was his true value as a player and that he was and is still a role model for the young and aspiring footballers. Did the system failed him or did Channa failed the system is a question that needs to be seriously looked at. Channa now has understood the true meaning of ‘better late than never’. He is determined — not to repent, not to repeat the same mistakes, not to fail his family and offsprings and not to fail in life. He wants to make this a turning point in life and set things straight, for good.