Football tournaments are held sans objectives and goals
Down the years, National tournaments have changed from one to another, except for the FA Cup knockout tournament which, in essence, remains unchanged. Most other National tournaments hardly lasted more than a few years. Major’s Cup, President’s Cup, Janaraja Cup, Premier Cup, Bandaranaike Memorial Cup, Mihira Cup, Brazil Cup, Cup Winners Cup to name a few. This feature, in a way, reflects the absence of endeavour and commitment on the part of those in authority, to cultivate the traditional values that prevail in the continuity of competition. This resulted in a drastic drop in the glamour and popularity of Football in the country. In most countries which play Association Football, particularly National tournaments, have had an uninterrupted continuity for over 50 years or more, thus increasing the popularity and prestige of the tournament, apart from creating healthy traditional values in the process. Another aspect of a successful tournament is the organisers foresight to introduce a fair competitive element in designing the competition with incentives and awards. No tournament, however prudently planned and methodically conducted, could survive or blossom into a stable and exciting competition without the element of incentives or motivation. Further, the quality of playing standard of players should be at a higher degree, to attract spectator interest in competition matches. Who will pay for the gate, without reservation, for the pedestrian standard of Football played these days in the competitions conducted by the FFSL?
With this in mind, in 1987, the FFSL re-structured its principal National Tournaments. The traditional CFA Cup was competitively made fair by conducting the initial rounds of the competition on a geographical basis, thus overcoming financial constraints and avoiding lopsided fixture draws. Non-entry of seeded clubs in the initial rounds, offer an opportunity for less fancied clubs to reach the 3rd or 4th Round in this prestigious tournament. In addition to the sponsors glittering Bristol FA Cup, prize money, medals and gifts were also awarded.
For the first time in the chequered history of local Football, a truly realistic National League Competition was also inaugurated under the sponsor’s tag “Bristol League”. Here, the FFSL graded 36 of the elite Clubs into 3 Divisions of 12 Clubs each, to accommodate the ever increasing demand from Football clubs for inclusion into the competition. The competition worked on a points system, where Clubs in each Division meets the other on a “Home and Away” basis. Clubs were promoted to the next higher Division, if placed 1st or 2nd in their respective Division at the end of the competition or, relegated to the next lower Division, if placed last or, one before the last in their respective Division. Due to the automatic grading of the Clubs at the end of competition, the players, coaches and Club officials, have no alternative but to pull up their socks and train assiduously, with a degree of sacrifice and commitment to avoid relegation in the first place and secondly, to climb the ladder for higher honours and recognition, with the competition becoming stiffer and other Clubs struggling to seek entry into the National League Tournament, playing standards are generally bound to improve. The Clubs reap a rich harvest through gate money at “Home” matches, making them financially viable and the consequent benefits to the players very rewarding. In this tournament too, the sponsors threw in a liberal slice of prize money, apart from the glittering trophies and gifts. During this period as a young coach, I had the privilege of coaching Pettah United SC – a Division III Club which created a unique tournament record by entering Divisions I, II and III, and winning all 3 on debut and became unbeaten champions at the prestigious Division I Bristol League Championship.
In 1987, when the FFSL was convened, one of their main priorities was to create a National League Competition in which a selected number of Clubs were graded and grouped into Divisions. In the mid 1970’s, something resembling a National League was formed under the ‘Premier League’, which unfortunately, did not last long. For some reason or other, this meaningful step did not realize its objectives and was soon abandoned. Hence, it was necessary to think deeply and decide wisely on the question of a stable National League.
Finally, the FFSL ExCo accepted the principle of forming a National League Competition, limiting it to 3 Divisions of 12 Clubs each. However, due to popular demand, the number was increased in 1989 to 14 Clubs per Division. The Clubs in their respective Divisions were as follows: Division I- Air Force Migs, Black Square, Jupiters, Madyamalanka, Navy Sea Hawks, Old Bens, Red Diamonds, Police, Saunders, Sunny Mount, Army Bullets, York, Renown and CTB. Division II- Colpetty United, Ratnam, Cooray, CMC, Maligawatta Youth, Galle Youth, Negombo Youth, Greenfield, Peoples Park Rangers, Sapphire, Sunrise, Young Birds, Sunrise FAC and Gampola United. Division III- Anura, Prisons, Silver Tongue, Sea Hawks, Youngsters, YMSC, Zavia, Chilaw United, Comrades, Matale Youth, Old Joes, Wimbleton, Kegalle Youth and New Youngs. Prominent Clubs such as Victory, Java Lane, Pettah United, Colombo FC, Solid FC to name a few too, were later accommodated. In all humility I must confess that, through the re-structuring of the Bristol FA Cup tournament, the concept of the Bristol League and the Super Bowl was the brainchild of that late Football maestro Neville Abeygunawardena, and due to the Marketing acumen of FFSL Secretary Trevor Reckerman, who judiciously tied up the giant multinational Ceylon Tobacco Co. to sponsor them in all their splendour.
What is the true position now? Most of the Clubs are either dead or, not playing competitive Football. It is not a secret that Football competitions are now held mainly in the Capital City, with a limited number of Clubs run by money-men, along with the participation of the Armed Forces and Police, without any objectives and goals. National Squads are formed only by select players from the aforementioned teams. As a result, many of the talented players from the outstation Clubs are deprived from representing their motherland. In such a backdrop, how can the FFSL build a strong National team to participate at International tournaments and produce results.This unfortunate phenomenon started in the early 2000, with low quality leadership and poor administration within the FFSL.
The 3rd principal National tournament is the Super Bowl, which is exclusively for the 1st 8 Clubs in the Bristol League Division tournament. As the top Clubs in Division I are denied the opportunity to earn promotion to a higher Division, the Super Bowl offered them adequate compensation. Here again, all Clubs are motivated, as their crowning glory is to play in the Super Bowl, which, literally, is a competition among the super teams only. This tournament has also been sponsored for many years with prize money and gifts, apart from an attractive trophy
The Inter-League tournament is yet another sponsored National Competition which catered to the affiliated Football Leagues, and played on a “Home and Away” League basis. It was obligatory on the Leagues to take part in this competition, to prove their vibrancy and existence. This also gave the outstation fans and the general public the opportunity, not only to see the elite of Colombo, but also other outstation players in action. Large crowds witnessed these glorious clashes in almost every principal town. In fact, a cursory glance at our National Squads between the years 1950-1970, would show a strong representation from the outstations, in both the Senior and Youth National teams. Such was the quality and character of Football in our Leagues then. But, what of today? My guess is as good as yours.