Football: Channa dug his grave long before digging others' says former official

A major overhaul of the entire system, is the only way out, according to FFSL Vice President Ranjith Rodrigo, if Football in Sri Lanka is to survive with dignity. 

Rodrigo, former President of Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) and custodian of Negombo Youth Football Club, stated this as a rejoinder to former National Football Captain, E.B. Channa's present plight. 

Channa, a prominent Footballer who represented Sri Lanka for 16 years, dreamed on and on of the high life a European player enjoys, but it remained only a dream. 

Eventually, he ended up a labourer and a gravedigger at Dadella Cemetery in Galle, despite having been a National star and a role model for other footballers. 

Rodrigo was taken aback by Channa's present plight, being a National footballer, but was forthright in saying he did not feel sorry at all for the person, in the former National skipper. 

"I say this clearly. There is no doubt whatsoever about Channa the footballer but, as an individual, he is a failure. He was with Negombo Youth for four seasons. As a prominent player, he was one of the best paid players but, he completely mismanaged himself," Rodrigo stated. 

Rodrigo pointed out that Football has always been the poor man's sport in Sri Lanka, due to many reasons, with 'the haves and the abled' never encouraging their kids to take up the world's most popular sport, topping the list. 

He also claimed that, even local clubs, at all levels, are sustained mainly by overenthusiastic individuals who love Football, and are willing to dump money without any returns. 

Rodrigo is one of them, and has been the livewire of Negombo Youth for over two decades, as the Club's provider, sponsor and godfather. 

"It's not easy to run a club, and for 20 years, just imagine the amount I would have spent. It's always been out of my largesse all the time and, if not for me, in all probability, Negombo Youth would not be in existence today. If that becomes a fact of life, then there would be no opportunities for the players. It's clearly evident that, though Football is a popular sport worldwide, it is a struggling entity in Sri Lanka's sports," Rodrigo explained. 

What Rodrigo is trying to make clear through these observations is the core hardship Football is going through, to end up where it is today, like Channa. 

Like it has been called for ages, of being the poor man's sport in this country, it still holds and will do so for years to come. 

If players dream big about Football, more than as a passion, Rodrigo states that there will be more Channas in the making. 

"This is a rare occurrence, where a top class player of international standard, has gone astray, thinking that Football will take him to fantasy destinations. It is possible in European countries but, in Sri Lanka, one must be practical. You can be a player, an official or an individual who runs a club, including me, it's applicable to all. If things go wrong and I get bankrupt someday, can I claim what I did for Football and ask for reimbursement from the country," Rodrigo questioned. 

"Even I'm in that frame and it could be my fate tomorrow. But, as an individual, you must be very mindful about your future, family and other commitments. If you run only behind Football in Sri Lanka, ignoring your career, or business, or family, this will be the fate of anyone, even me. That's the reason why I don't have any sympathy for Channa. Not only did he fail himself but, he failed all those around him, including the game," Rodrigo blamed. 

As Rodrigo further explains, there are high ranked government officials, as well as 'tuk-tuk' drivers and private sector employees who don a jersey and represent a club, a region or the country. 

But they have made up their respective careers and Football to fit other cogs of their personal lives, to lead a balanced life. 

"Football is not a professional sport in Sri Lanka, expect for sides such as Police, Army, Navy, Air Force and Civil Security Forces. Clubs provide contract money to selected players, a monthly allowance to all, playing kits, nutritional supplements, food, travelling and medical. Even if a player represents Sri Lanka, it is the same mode. However, clubs go beyond what is in a player's contract, by looking after their wellbeing whenever there is a personal crisis, and by helping them with employment. Making up their lives is up to the individual and not anyone else's duty, not even the FFSL. This is where everybody gets the message wrong. You can't blame the game, you must be thankful to it, for providing opportunities to shine among the rest," he explained. 

Rodrigo, an avid believer of lucks and flukes, harshly critises Channa for the detrimental manner he is attempting to set an example to the youngsters. 

Explaining further on FFSL's involvement in National players, Rodrigo asked why is Channa the only person to face this debacle, while others, with similar or lesser backgrounds, have reached their goals in life. 

"In 2006, the FFSL called all National players to attend the Football 'C' Coaching Licence, except for Channa, all the others attended. He comes in five days later and vanished after three days, while those who completed, among them were Dudley Steinwall, Amanulla and others obtained the 'B' or 'A' Licence. He was offered employment by many establishments but, for reasons best known to him, never turned up. Then he gets suspended for a year in 2010, for match fixing, and his value gradually comes down, so does his contract value at club level. At 38, he suddenly wakes up to find he has a family to support, when all offers that made to him were ignored or turned down. This is not the way I expect a National player and skipper to conduct himself. At least, if he takes this as a lesson and, if someone would come forward to assist him, it will be a positive thing. I hope others, especially the young ones, would take it as an example and treat the game with respect," a fuming Rodrigo stated.