One against Three battle
The trio of Dr. Manil Fernando, Ranjith Rodrigo and Jaswar Umar
As the elections of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) is set to take place on or before September 16, a new face has emerged with Dacshitha Sumathipala showing his intention to run for the top position. The current President of the Anuradhapura Football League, Sumathipala, a former Royal College and Sri Lanka Youth goalkeeper, revealed that he is all set to take ‘football to a new path’ at an event held in Colombo last week.
Sumathipala is heavily backed by the Sri Lanka Masters’ Soccer Association, comprising of former veteran national and club players and few other club officials, who have come forward to support the new candidate.
An entrepreneur and a businessman of many trades including marine engineering, ayurvedic products and agriculture, Sumathipala claims that his intention is to clearly eradicate Sri Lanka football from corruption and practice transparency in governance.
“I have played football at the highest level, and I’m familiar with administration. It’s not an easy task to completely change the setup overnight, but if we appoint the correct person to the position it’s not a hard task. It’s an achievable goal if we work with a pure intention,” Sumathipala stated.
Though Sumathipala is yet to unveil his team contesting at the upcoming FFSL elections under his leadership, he is confident of winning. However, he will have a stiff challenge from an unholy alliance of three influential individuals. This alliance includes two former Presidents in Ranjith Rodrigo and Jaswar Umar who ha been accused of corruption during his rein as President and Dr. Manil Fernando, a former candidate.
The contest between the two factions – the trio of Umar, Rodrigo and Fernando and Sumathipala – could become highly close and decisive as to which direction the administration would head to.
Dacshitha Sumathipala
Sumathipala, who also has a close link with the Maldivian Football Federation, has so far infused professionalism to Anuradhapura FL, which has come under his wing from early this year. He has mediated with the Maldivian Football Federation President to give opportunities to Sri Lankan players and referees to be part of their national domestic competitions.
“I also played my part in helping to get the present global ban lifted. I’m not saying I did it, but I played my part. I’m not here to claim glory or anything like that, but football in Sri Lanka needs to be guided in a different and brand new path. We need to restore our dignity globally,” he asserted.
Meanwhile the coalition of Umar, Rodrigo and Fernando held a gathering earlier last week to clarify why they teamed up with many league representatives being present. They claim that their team has the backing of almost all the leagues with voting rights, but the clear number is yet to be determined.
“This coalition is not about trying to regain power, it’s the only way forward to get the global ban lifted and set the game back on track. If we stand apart, football will be the ultimate loser. Our intention is to restore the sport back on its feet and get the game going for the benefit of all stakeholders, including players, coaches and other officials,” said Rodrigo.
But months back Rodrigo was vociferous about financial irregularities that took place under the administration of Umar as FFSL President. Rodrigo had the backing of Dr. Fernando and former President and CEO of FFSL, Anura de Silva, who had decamped the coalition after Umar joined in.
“As I said, this teaming up is all about getting the global ban lifted and following all instructions given to Sri Lanka by FIFA and AFC. But I have to be firm that there will be no room for corruption and those matters with regard to the allegations will take place as it has to happen. If proven and found guilty any individual will have to bow down to the law,” Rodrigo clarified.
After months of idling, as the recognised representative of FIFA from Sri Lanka, Jaswar Umar had negotiated with FIFA and Ministry of Sports officials to come to a common platform, after FIFA instructed Sri Lanka its conditions to get the ban lifted.
According to the conditions of FIFA, Sri Lanka should forward an ‘official and written exemption from the current national sports law to be legally granted to the FFSL/Sri Lankan football in order to guarantee the recognition and implementation of the newly adopted FFSL Statutes on September 22 of 2022’.
FIFA further explained that ‘the FFSL administration to be fully in-charge of the FFSL’s daily affairs until a new FFSL Executive Committee is elected because the elections of January 14, 2023 were not recognised by either FIFA or the AFC’, according to the official FIFA website.
The FIFA clearly instructed that ‘elections for a new FFSL Executive Committee to be organised as per the newly adopted FFSL Statutes on September 22 of 2022, especially by secret ballot and for a four-year mandate’, to which the Ministry of Sports eventually agreed.
“The Minister of Sports has played its part in handing over the administration back to FFSL, which was the first step towards the elections. We are again an independent governing body and this paved the way to get Sri Lanka back in the World Cup Qualifiers. But the global ban is still on, and it will be lifted only after the election is conducted according to FIFA and AFC requirements, at least 10 days before the World Cup Qualifier match against Yemen on October 12,” Umar explained.
The FFSL membership will gather to conduct a Special General Meeting to make further decisions in accordance to FIFA and AFC conditions and nominations will be called in for the FFSL elections after the appointment of the Election Committee tomorrow.