SRI LANKA FOOTBALL, AN ASSESSMENT WORTH CONSIDERING EVEN AT THIS ELEVENTH HOUR!
Sports was able to finally touch base with the Senior Most Executive Committee Member of FFSL, Trevor Reckerman who has served the FFSL in different capacities since the early 1980s albeit with a long break due to a prolonged overseas assignment. Trevor was Secretary General during two separate terms.in the Board of Control for Football under the stewardship of FFSL President DIG Navaratnam and later when a fresh election brought the FFSL administration under Hon. Minister Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi. Trevor is a well known Top Management personality having served many institutions including a long stint with Nestle - both in Sri Lanka and overseas. He is now a reputed Management Consultant engaged in assignments with reputed local and foreign organisations. Having played the game at St. Joseph’s College and later at Club Level with Old Joes SC and Ratnam SC, his passion for Football has been recognised by several administrations over the last 30 years. Ruefully, his vain attempts to put the FFSL on a professional footing in keeping with modern football management have eluded the FFSL due to a highly politicised environment. A quiet patient worker behind the scenes, he reluctantly consented to this interview with DMS, offering his frank views making a plea for an Interim Administration which he believes is sorely needed to bring about a renaissance in Sri Lanka Football.
Q From reports reaching us, there appears to be a great turmoil within the FFSL at present. What are your observations?
Yes, sadly this is the case with the run-up to the elections creating many splinter groups from within and without FFSL. While contests are a democratic prerogative, an unhealthy climate of malicious and revengeful intent is causing a major break up of key personalities who have been at the helm of the game for many years.
Q But isn’t it time for a radical change with fresh faces needed to take on the mantle of leadership?
Absolutely, but it may be only a wishful thought! Anyone who knows the football system knows the role of the Regional Leagues in such a process. Unless this League Structure is comprehensively overhauled, the same ineffective groupings will eventually emerge to run the FFSL.
Q Is that at all possible and how does the Sports Law impact on it?
FIFA proposed a model constitution but the FFSL simply dragged its feet without making an attempt to introduce it, citing conflicts with the local Sports Law. While that is true, engagement at the highest levels of FFSL and the Ministry of Sports (MOS) should have addressed that challenge. Regrettably, there is no political will to make that critical change. And so it is to business as usual.
Q What makes the battle for power and position such an attractive proposition in Football?
I think this is true for most sports. At a minimum, it brings prestige & honour. But what is not as apparent, are the trappings of office which International Football offers in abundance. I have said this before and I will say it again; that is that Germany and Sri Lanka both have one vote in FIFA and that value cannot be underestimated. For the people at the top, the lure from many quarters is what makes the battle worth it. Once you get into office, you forget the needs of local football and get on the international bandwagon as if it was a birthright.
Q But is that not the case in every country?
It is, but there are also fundamental differences. Most wealthy nations enjoy the glamour but don’t need the trappings as much. For us in particular, the FIFA and AFC largesse is all consuming. Our football has not reached professional status and remains mired in a poor socio-economic strata. For people who don’t even have a regular income, football is an attractive alternate preoccupation.
Q Would that not be an impetus to move to a professional outlook for the sport?
A great question indeed. Regrettably however, the educational level of most footballers remains very poor and management ability is a rare commodity.performance even in the better teams is based on practical efforts and rigorous training rather than a strategic concept of capacity to match a fast growing competitive framework in the region; even among the poorer South Asian nations such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, etc. Professional sport is more than managing a talent pool; it requires a corporate capability to muster resources, attract a substantial fan base & establish a regional competitiveness.
Q Does AFC not recognise and support such a need in the FFSL?
Indeed, I favour a tailor-made solution for each Member Association, especially the FFSL. Merely catering to an International template is not sustainable when our problems are somewhat different. While both FIFA and AFC have time and again put in supervisory and advisory mechanisms, it lacks accountability and neither does the FFSL address definite objectives. As it happens, the people at the helm make use of these initiatives to travel aimlessly and benefit themselves.
Q Can you be more specific about such initiatives?
There are a few instances I know of, because I was involved in many of them. One was called the Performance Programme which included an HR assessment and restructure. The other was a Technical Study and Recommendation headed by a resident expert. Both were scuttled by the people who mattered and FIFA Officials did very little to impose the conditions having invested quite a lot of money. My heart aches when I think of it because it had the essential ingredients required for a major change in our football regime.
Qwhat about the Youth Program?
Top of the Agenda for sure. Without a exciting schools programme at the Under 13, 15, 17 & 19 + youth academies and a popularisation plan with parents and well wishers, we will continue to play second fiddle to the robust Cricket & Rugby programmes. The support and partnership with the Ministry of Education is vital in such an endeavour.
Q You are credited with obtaining most of the FFSL sponsorship from as far back as the 80’s with the Bristol League and the Milo Junior Programme to the all encompassing Cargills partnership. Regrettably, DMS understands that Cargills have now pulled out?
I am personally very saddened by this recent loss. Mr. Ranjit Page, the Cargills Deputy Chairman came to our help when things looked very bleak and helped infuse a lot of energy into the local competitions as well as the National Team. The FFSL it must be said did their utmost to maintain this partnership but perhaps lacked a sense of the big picture. Big businesses cannot justify large investments without a commensurate return on investment. With all the internal squabbles FFSL faced, I was not sure if we delivered adequately on that promise!
Q So how do you hope to finance future programmes?
We cannot expect anyone to make any overtures at this time until a new administration takes shape. Commercial interests will and should look at the composition of the new team very closely before offering any sponsorship.
Q FIFA and AFC funds will continue we presume?
Yes, the customary handouts will come, I hope. FIFA recently announced huge losses for the first time and that may impact on the funds allocated to Sri Lanka. Sometimes, I feel that these funds are what prop poor administrations. In the AFC Rankings, we are in 44th place out of 45, with only Pakistan below us. But we all get the same amount of money. I cannot imagine how and why it makes sense?
Q If such funds dry up and sponsorships are hard to come by, what alternatives have you got?
Nothing at present is the short answer. We will then be compelled to seek assistance from the Ministry of Sports (MOS) which will then have its own implications. I have for long advocated gate matches as a primary revenue source but that effort has been neglected because of the free-flow of funds from our godfathers.
Q But isn’t it true that FFSL cannot run gate matches because it has no proper venues?
The plot thickens as they say! Can you imagine that over a 78 year history, the FFSL has no proper venues of its own? The football centers inaugurated with such grandeur in past years are all a financial burden on FFSL. The MOS should investigate this situation as a matter of priority and assist the FFSL restructure them once and for all; the FFSL cannot do this on its own.
Q So, it appears to be a lot of gloom facing the FFSL?
Without a doubt! I have repeatedly attempted to bring the factions together and even headed a special committee for this purpose. But the greed of office prevents such a noble solution. Everyone wants the plum seats that will bring with it, the jet travel and the luxury suites, courtesy FIFA and AFC.
Q What is the solution that you recommend?
I believe that it is time an Interim Committee (IC) is entrusted this sport. I know many will shudder and disdain that thought, but I am confident that it is the way in which it is done that will prove successful. The MOS should not go it alone. It must wwork hand in hand with FIFA and AFC who are well versed in this type of solution. The MOS should conduct an urgent inquiry into the affairs of FFSL and then invite FIFA and AFC to assist form an IC for a limited period with very precise mandates to reorganise Sri Lanka Football. In my view, nothing short of such a master-plan will be effective.
Q Why are you so adamant about this course of action?
Simply because I see no alternative. Take a peek at the 2016 Annual Report just published. It is a clear indictment of the administrations of the past years headed by the very people who are in office and others vying for entry.
The Auditor General has made several observations which any self respecting leadership should have been mindful of. We have lost a colossal sum that goes into several millions. As a member of the Ex Co, I feel particularly ashamed of this tragedy. All I can say is that I brought up these issues repeatedly but no real action transpired.
Trevor was Secretary General during two separate terms, the first occasion in the Board of Control for Football under the stewardship of FFSL President DIG Navaratnam and later when fresh election brought the FFSL administration under Hon. Minister Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi I think this is true for most sports. At a minimum, it brings prestige & honour. But what is not as apparent, is the trappings of office which International Football offers in abundance