‘Unity is strength’ should be Lanka football’s battle cry
Following the recent historic defeat of the Sri Lanka national soccer team at the hands of the Maldives 10/0 and the subsequent disastrous defeat to the World’s lowest ranked team – Bhutan, twice over the past and present administrators, office bearers, Exco members, past national players along with passionate football supporters spoke to the press as they feel it’s time to set about a rejuvenation of football in Sri Lanka.
Gone are the days of soccer stalwarts such as Peter Ranasinghe, Mahinda Aluwihare, P.D. Sirisena, Lionel Peiris, Ananda Weerasekera and Rumy Packeer Ali to name a few who brought fame to Sri Lanka then Ceylon nationally and internationally by their top quality soccer. Everyone at the press briefing held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute auditorium expressed their displeasure at the plight of football at the moment.
It was mentioned by the speakers that already the Minister of Sports had been informed through a letter to seek his attention and remedial action on several urgent issues that will help uplift the game. The main issue was the undermining of the Technical Committee and its recommendations that resulted in the team’s defeats and rapid deterioration of soccer. The suspension of the Youth Development Programme is a matter that has to be investigated urgently as this is the feeding source for the national side.
Team selections should be done to a set plan with the holding of trial matches. The most deserved players should be included in the side and this was ignored when selecting national sides in the recent past which resulted in Sri Lanka losing to lower ranked sides. It was noticed that the highest goal scorer in the recently concluded Champions League along with another fine player have been axed at the selections.The most important aspect is the welfare and the monthly allowance of the players. Football players were promised a monthly allowance of Rs. 100,000/- and employment but sad to state that only Rs. 25,000/- was paid and promised employment not provided. The minister had been requested to investigate misappropriation and mismanagement of funds and frequent overseas travel of office bearers.
It should be noted that the office bearers may come and go but the game of football should go on for ever. When selecting office bearers at the AGM everyone should think twice before electing individuals for office and the correct person should be elected to the correct position. If not, that will affect the development of the game. There’s no point in blaming or criticising such office-bearers later for their actions.
It’s high time that the concerned higher authorities step in and do the needful to restore the balance of Football in Sri Lanka. Everyone should forget past differences and join hands together and work for a well discussed plan to see Sri Lanka regain her lost prestige in soccer. – Unity is strength.