There is no topic in sports in Sri Lanka on which there has been so much controversies, disputes and allegations of abuse and corruption that on the subject of sports tours undertaken by various sports bodies. The recent tours by our netball, badminton, karate and football teams have come in for much comment and criticism [...]

The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Foreign tours — Bane of Sri Lanka football

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There is no topic in sports in Sri Lanka on which there has been so much controversies, disputes and allegations of abuse and corruption that on the subject of sports tours undertaken by various sports bodies.

Sri Lankan footballers inside an up-to-date dressing room, getting ready for friendly match against Thailand last year

The recent tours by our netball, badminton, karate and football teams have come in for much comment and criticism in the local dailies, articles and letters have also appeared in the valuable columns of your esteemed papers.

In view of the regular brickbats hurled at sports Controlling Bodies and the apparent nonchalant attitude adopted by some sports Controlling Bodies which continue unabated accepting and undertaking any invitation from foreign countries, it is timely that the Sports Ministry impose more stringent measure and safe guards.

While participation in foreign competitions and reciprocal sports tours with other nations helps immensely to promote and enhance the sport and the sporting image of the country, indiscrete participation and officials who make use and abuse of these tours for their personal advantage and enjoyment cause more harm and damage both to the sport and to the image of the country.

The Sport Ministry and the sports loving public are well aware of what has happened in the past and of the inglorious and dismal record of some Controlling Sports Bodies, particularly football the game I am seriously concerned.

For the information of the Sports Ministry, Education Ministry and the Football Controlling Body I like to highlight our national football teams pathetic performances at the international tournaments and friendly encounters played abroad during the period 2013 up to date.
Match results:
SAFF Tournament in Nepal: Lost to Afghanistan 3-1, Lost to Maldives 10-1
Bangabandu Tournament in Bangladesh: Lost to Bangladesh 1-0, Lost to Malaysia 2-0
Friendly matches in Bangladesh: Lost one match 1-0, Drew one match 1-1
Invitation Tournament in Jordon: Lost to Pakistan 3-0, Lost to Jordon 4-0
Friendly matches in Jordon: Lost both matches 3-2 and 4-0
Friendly Match in Seychelles: Lost 3-1

Seychelles – an Island with a population of 91680 Ranked 180th position in world ranking.
World Cup Qualifiers (Men):
First Leg in Sri Lanka: Lost to Bhutan 1-0
Second leg in Bhutan: Lost to Bhutan 2-1

Bhutan ranked 207th position in the world ranking
Olympic qualifying round (Women) in Myanmar: Lost to Myanmar 16-0, Lost to India 4-0
Olympic qualifying round (Men) in Dubai: Lost to Dubai 4-0, Lost to Yemen 5-1, Lost to Tajikistan 5-0
Asian Football tournament (Girls Under-14) in Nepal: Beat Maldives 6-0, Lost to Iran 11-0, Lost to Nepal 8-0
Asian Football Tournament (Boys Under-14) in Kazakhstan: Lost to India 5-0, Lost to Iran 4-0, Lost to Tajikistan 6-0
School Football Tournament (Boys Under-19) in China: Lost to China 1-0, Lost to Malaysia 4-0, Lost to Thailand 1-0, Drew with Hong Kong 2-2, with Singapore 2-2, Beat India 4-0

Tours undertaken by our football – teams – during 2013 and up to date are 10.
Matches Played – 30 (Won 2, Drew 3, Lost 25), Goals conceded – 116, Goals scored – 22
International wins by Boys 1, Girls 1
Worst defeats: Lost to Maldives: 10-1 (By men’s team), Lost to Myanmar: 16-0, Lost to Iran: 11-0, Lost to Nepal: 8-0 (by Women’s team)

From the above facts and figures does one require further evidence to confirm our putrid standards of football? Don’t blame the players for this; it is the officials who will have to take the blame and responsibility for using our innocent youths as scapegoats to achieve their objectives.

We are aware, it has been a practice of the school football Association, most of the talented soccer players who were selected for participation in various tours were not considered to make the trip due to their inability to raise the required fund.

A good example is the recently concluded school tour to China, in which the players whose parents and respective schools were able to raise the funds went on the tour not the deserving ones.

This inevitably leads to disillusionment and frustration among the players which also harm their future. It is not a surprise that talented youth who are assets of our country has end up as drug addicts and involved in illegal activities.

Looking at the decent results produced by the Under-19 school team in China, gives us an impression, instead so many officials, if funds were raised for few more talented players, we would have performed better. Even in the World Cup Tournament, usually four officials accompany the squad. That is the Manager cum coach / Trainer / Physio / Masseur cum Assistant.

The Education Ministry must understand and realise these youth – between five years to 18 years, comes under their custody and responsibility until they leave school. On the other hand the School Football Association has a very important role to play in this regard. It is not secret that the greatest drawback for the growth and development of football as a serious contender in the Asian circuit, is the absence of a meaningful Collegiate football promotional programme from the grassroots level. The successful culmination of all human endeavour begins in the schools.

One need not be a Socrates to understand the logic behind the argument, yet the School Football Association and the Controlling Body both have laid the least emphasis on this aspect.

These two important bodies do not work together cordially. The Sri Lanka Schools Association, is woefully weak and ineffective, runs its affairs with few school principals and masters-in-charge according to their own will and fancy.

To hoodwink the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sports conducts a few football tournaments here and there without a proper sensible plan to develop the game. However there is an upsurge of interest only when a foreign tour is round the corner.

Trails are then published, new coaches appointed, finally select the players and request their parents or respective schools to fund their trips.
In the recently concluded tour to China each schoolboy selected were asked to pay Rupees One Lakh and Ten Thousand to make the tour.

Those who could not raise the necessary funds were not considered to make the trip, however, seven officials accompanied the team without a proper official coach and a physio while the task of the Hon.

Minister of Sports and his officials is unenviable, in view of the soliciting for and in ordinate anxiety of sport bodies to undertake foreign tours a more pragmatic and effective control should be maintained by the Ministry.

From a careful and honest analysis and study of some of the tours undertaken by the School Football Association and the Football Controlling Body in the past, the Ministry will be able to ascertain the intricate problems that have been created and assess for itself what we have gained from these tours.

The insidious way in which the Controlling Body circumvents the Ministry stipulations must be carefully reviewed.

It will be timely to set up a Board to investigate all the trips undertaken by the Controlling Body and its affiliates during the last five years to ascertain:
-  The need for these tours and whether they have been of any purpose
-  The composition of the teams and the basic of selection
-  How these tours were funded. If monies were collected from outside, the basis of such collection and whether these monies have been accounted for.
-  In authorising future tours the Ministry must rigidly impose certain pre-conditions before approval is granted. The following salient aspects should be clarified.

-  The purpose of participation. What will be gained from participation the level and relative standards of the other participating teams?

-  Has the Sport Body the required funds to undertake a tour if funds are to be collected from the public whether the collection and disbursement of funds are appropriately accounted and subject to scrutiny.

-  In the nomination of teams, selection of teams the best available are selected and the officials restricted to the barest minimum.

-  Has the team properly trained, nourished and equipped before they leave the country.

I conclude by quoting the advice given by the Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe to his Ministers recently, “Restrict foreign tours and work to the country and to the future generation”.

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