| Where do
we go after the Hong Kong reversal?
By Vimal Perera
Alice: Cheshire puss, would you tell me please which way I ought
to go from here? Cheshire Puss: That depends a good deal of where
you want to get to. “Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland”
The above came into my mind as reports reached Colombo of the defeat
of Sri Lanka in the hands of Hong Kong. To some it was the end of
a dream. To others it was not the end of the world. If the expectation
of being in the next round of the world cup qualifying matches was
a dream the result was a reality.
The question that needs to be asked and addressed to by rugby hierarchy
is “where to from here”. This should not be thought
of as the end of the road. It is a milestone as we strive to reach
the expectations as discussed at the last rugby congress.
Lankans did expect too much from their team following the victory
over China? Having been in the bowl in the last Asiad today the
team has done a great leap. However the expectation that we could
beat Hong Kong was hope. High hopes as we may say. Nevertheless
it is not as bad as some would think. When you have high hopes you
can always land high enough if not at the top.
Where do we go from here?
A reality Sri Lanka has to face is the composition of the team:
it being all Sri Lankan. As allowed in the eligibility criteria
a person who has thirty six consecutive months residency qualifies
to represent the country. Hong Kong made good us of these regulations.
So has it been with some of the other rugby paying countries in
the Asian Region. The authorities have a lot to do if they are to
convince the sports ministry. To lobby the powers is not an easy
task. Yet one will have to try.
Another area that has to be taken in hand is the experience of playing
more matches with visiting teams. Need not be only Asia. Neither
should it be teams from the top rugby playing nations. There are
many other countries that play rugby and can be good game for Sri
Lanka. Japanese rugby players get more exposure as they play many
games with other counties. Japan has its eyes set beyond Asia. The
latest round of matches was with Georgia.
It has also to concentrate in getting sons, of Sri Lankan parents,
who play rugby in England, Australia. New Zealand etc. They should
be encouraged to play in the domestic season.
More competition and more opportunities is what local players need
if they are to perform at higher levels.
In the first instance Sri Lanka to perform to stay where we are.
Form the bowl to be among the first four is an achievement. To stay
there is not going to be easy. We have to be ready for the Asiad.
Contracting promising players and the continuity of a development
squad has also to be looked at.
Where to from here? This is spelt out in the objectives set by the
Union for the next 10 years. This will require a lot of commitment
and planning. For hopes to be achieved consensus among stake holders
is a must.
Important most of all to achieve success will be the availability
of funds. No body will come to play rugby in Sri Lanka unless they
benefit. To play more matches more finances are required. To Contract
players there must be resources. All these will not be impossible
if rugby does better. The better it does there will be more sponsors
in the queue. Where to from here is to work with consensus to do
better. Where to be, is to forget personal prejudices and remember
the game is the most important.
In working towards achieving the objectives one will always find
obstacles. These have to be overcome as they are faced. Lessons
must be learnt. It is an irony of life that the scum and the cream
surface to the top in a glass of milk. The experienced will use
the cream while separating the scum. The way to go is to make use
of the cream.
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