Is our sports saddled with the malady of a nation living in denial?
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Football has made strides internationally with the inclusion of Sri Lankan players based in other countries.
Somehow, we seem to be a country caught in a web of derelict governance! Day in and day out we hear of people we regard as leaders of our land, acting with such selfish attitudes, that the last person that comes to their mind, is that forlorn man in the street. That same sad plight appears to affect our bastions of sports, with the people at the helm carrying on, as if it is their very existence that sustains our fortunes, abysmal though it is at present.
A constant deficit in leadership pervades all echelons and the new Minister of Sports (MoS) now in the hot seat, making the usual noises of non-interference; the classic entry mode. This column has repeatedly fostered the need for a system change and the grave need for accountability at all levels. Merely, offering new wine in old bottles does not auger well for any sport and a surfeit of them that must be regulated on a daily basis, expending all the energy of a nation in dire straits at present.
Essentially, the MoS must not try to run sports themselves. That is a matter for the National Federations (NFs). What they must ensure are competitive standards that match regional and international levels. Perhaps a classification of the sports bodies may help them deal with the best performing NFs. The mediocre and ‘also-rans’ will be required to establish basic parametres in order to be fully recognised and brought under the benevolence of the state.
We must realise that we cannot be best in all. We must focus on what is best and leave the rest to those who have for some reason or other, found a wand to wave and an enthusiastic world body to please. The Olympic Sports or World Games events, can offer a guide to what we can pursue and what can be left in the back burner.
The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) can play a collaborative role with the MoS in this regard. They must review their vision and mission objectives which mirror Olympic ideals, but must adapt them to address local imperatives. Merely, basking in glory when it suits them, is not a sufficient reason to prolong election mandates which are the result of inane politicking. There must emerge a more inspirational mode that transforms ideals to action.
Recently, two major incidents should have drawn the attention of the big chiefs of NOC. One was the vicious attack on its Secretary General and the other was the pathetic suicide of a national hurdler. Both incidents did not appear to draw any serious examination by the powers that be. That these examples point to underlying reasons, must be acknowledged and dealt with, so that such motives and its causes are brought to light and mitigated in the long run. To merely ignore or push them under the carpet is to merely postpone the inevitable.
Meanwhile, the NFs require a major overhaul in their management and operations. Sports management disciplines are now institutional prerogatives and there is adequate knowledge and capacity out there to offer a measure of redemption to many sports organisations that have lost their way. The NOC can play a pivotal role in this regard and introduce mandatory reforms that will improve the overall quality of our national sports bodies. Alleviating the political iron grip that suffocates most of them is a sad travesty of our ability and the need of the hour.
By and large, cricket has maintained a burnished reputation and survived the machinations of political sloggers. While not all is lily white as it seems, discipline remains a concern with Kamil Mishara ordered home, much in sync with what transpired last year in England, but the overall organisational muscle seems to prevail. The international relevance is plain to see and though our captain thought his bowlers were world class, we were entertained to half volleys that were dispatched to the stands by the world beaters. The largesse that they graciously offered the state as a contribution to our national woes must be complimented and its ability to lift our spirits even for a fleeting moment must not be disregarded. Many others cannot match this classy decibel. Rugby battles are still in court and will drag on with the Nippon Rugby League in the doldrums, unlike the Aeroflot airliner that was released no sooner the Russians raised their voice. Football is aspirational these days and our teams are enjoying the generosity of the Qataris with a forthcoming World Cup campaign maintaining the momentum.
Meanwhile, football star Waseem Razeek has gone public with a scathing commentary about the injustice in football house, even while the MoS scuttled attempts to defer the AGM and elections, which the President was pushing for in earnest. Former President Anura de Silva took a swipe at his successor, raising allegations of suspicious financial transactions without the customary formality of ExCo approvals. Both personalities are not strangers to such shenanigans.
Other sports too have come for closer scrutiny. Netball fought an acrimonious election and chose a new team that will look to move on with forthcoming international tournaments. Martial Arts disciplines, Karate- Do, Wushu and Muay Thai, riddled with mismanagement and charges of sexual abuse, drew strong protests led by disgruntled followers on the doorstep of the MoS, much to the embarrassment of officials and an ominous ‘GGG’ (GotaGoGama) like battle to come.
So, it is an opportune time to take stock. The nation is in the death throes of an economic meltdown while the legislators are busy with strange games that make musical chairs look like a freudian mishap. Our sports are inveigled in this vortex of depravity. The Commonwealth Games will be a checkpoint we must navigate. Let us be wise and field a good team, not the usual footloose travel bands that go with the flow. More importantly, lets put to rest the denial that prevents our relentless search for excellence, that this nation clamors for each day.