SLHF desperately hunting for funds to send three players for Asian Qualifiers
The Sri Lanka Hockey Federation (SLHF) is in a race against time to find funds for the airfare to send three of their women players, ahead of their Women’s Asian Games Qualifier 2022, set to start on June 6.
Though the remaining 15, covered by the 15 free air tickets granted by the Asian Hockey Federation have come forward to fund their fellow players, the team supposed to leave for Indonesia next Thursday (2), is going from pillar to post in search of sponsors.
Sumith Edirisinghe, the manager of the tour, speaking to the Sunday Times yesterday said the National Olympic Committee is also trying to contribute to the cause. However, four of the officials will have to be self-funded, along with the Korean coach, Kingm.
“We’ll have to look after the coach also. We’ll have to buy a ticket, meals and lodging also”, Edirisinghe, also a past President of SLHF, laid out the additional expenses.
He said from the budget costing Rs. 200,000 per player, they have been waived off 50% accounting for food and hosting, and only been charged USD$25 dollars a day. He also revealed the total cost for the entire team is broken down to USD$ 165 for visa, USD$ 25 multiplied by days and transport.
Their situation has been made even more difficult as the flight was originally slated for Saturday, but citing no flights, the departure has been advanced by two days to Thursday, now.
“Still we’re planning. Ministry approval will be granted tomorrow. Still we’re trying to send our team, because if we are not attending these tournaments they will penalise us,” Edirisinghe answered when asked whether are they guaranteed of going.
The national women’s team haven’t ventured on a foreign tour in the last five years, Edirisinghe added.