Why should schools keep out of the knock-outs?
View(s):The schools have once again dropped out of the knock out tournament which will have only six teams. The explanation of the drop outs is that they have many injuries. With all the trainers’ supplements and doctors: how this can happen when the schools league had many breaks for rest and recovery. Schools boast of the expenses they incur for coaches, doctors, trainers, psychologists and supplements etc. Often they equate the spending to good performance and relate non-performance to the standards of refereeing. The pulling out of teams is indication to the way and or methods involved in training and the building jelly babies supported by supplements by whatever name you call it.
Emil Zatopek, a Czechoslovakian long distance runner who won three gold medals in the 1952 Olympics said, “An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head.” At the end of the schools league one must ask whether money bags has resulted in better performance. The first casualty of no results is the coach of St. Peter’s College who apparently did not add value in relation to the costs incurred. The fate of others will be known as we progress in the year.
Some former students of Trinity College opined that they could not match Royal forwards as the boys were not strong as the coach does not believe in supplements and wants them to take natural food. Supplements have its advantages as well as disadvantages. It is to supplement and not to be a substitute for hard work. This makes me think of the story of Pablo Picasso. One day a woman spotted him in the market and pulled out a piece of paper. “Mr. Picasso”, she said excitedly. “I’m a big fan. Please, could you do a little drawing for me?” Picasso happily complied and quickly etched out a piece of art for her on the paper provided. He then smiled as he handed it back to her. “That will be a million dollars,” “But Mr. Picasso,” the woman replied, flustered. “It only took you thirty seconds to do this little masterpiece.” “My good woman,” Picasso laughed, “It took me thirty years to do that masterpiece in thirty seconds.” There are no quick fixes to success though there are ways to make money fast and that is why today there is so much written about ‘Wele Suda.”
This in mind I asked the Master in Charge of Rugby at Science College Jayasuriya on the performance of Science College who said that they have a small budget and pays a little to the coach who in turn spends it back on the boys. We give some vitamins and the rest is a good meal after practice cooked by the parents. Science College is good as being third despite placed fourth. The hard road to success is what they have no money bags whose brain is to short circuit. A good example of the determination of Zatopek . Matches are not won on face book but on the pitch. I realized that it was not only in politics that people with no “A” levels are guiding the country. Sorry when the foundation level of schools there are money bags that may not have the O level but are the greatest noise. Science with a budget of around one third of the big talking schools has done well for themselves.
a‘I don’t need a safety helmet to play my game’ - An Isipathana player throws back a helmet that came from the crowd in the Singer League decider against Royal last Saturday - Pic by Amila Gamage
The Royal vs Isipathana match which turned to be an anti climax is the talking point. I call this an anti climax when most call this an exciting brand of rugby is because Royal with a plan slowed the game among forwards and denied ball to Isipathana. The Park Boys on the other hand did not look to have much of a plan and contributed to the slow game by themselves playing like the opponents. Royal who had over 70 per cent possession also had a maul to strike. Isipathana kept away from their much known play by not taking Royal up front. Facebook is a win but on the ground the rugby was slow and deliberately made so in the game plan of Royal. Pathana like Mary and the Little Lamb followed play.
There was a helmet that was thrown to the ground and possibly aimed at the match official. This is different to the booing and a throw of an empty water bottle seen in the past. This is most dangerous when the governing body has made it known to public that there is a huge probability that there may not be referees when those in the ‘A’ panel who are aging hang up the whistle. Much more dangerous is the call made in the social media for physically manhandling the players and the referees. This is being taken up seriously and a complaint I believe has been lodged with the Police. The helmet was is not the work of an over excited coward but a wife who took the chance to throw it out is the joke that is circulating. Talking of cowards there are many that adorn the rugby field who take leave to provide the entertainment with comments they themselves don’t understand and are supported by others who are in the same category.
The helmet throw on the lighter side provided some entertainment as the cops took it with them as the crowds laughed thinking what would happen if the owner were to claim. The humor was the joke that went around that the cops were looking for motorcyclist without a helmet riding out of the roads that led out of the Royal Complex. The story continues that it was the helmet of the pillion rider who happened to be the wife. She had to go by bus and was late in getting home and she had an excuse as she could not leave the ground. Apparently she took the opportunity to find time for entertainment of her own. Jokes apart, the throw of the helmet is serious business as this can lead to much indiscipline in the future.
It is in this scenario that one found the Colombo local authority known as the CMC making a call on schools in the Rugby League and noticing them on the need to pay the required entertainment tax on gate collections. We have seen a lot of excitement around the pitch as games have been won or lost with a close margin. This excitement has caused tension among those watching the games but whether there was entertainment on the field is another question.
* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Accredited Referees’ Educator