Time has arrived to act on soccer tumble
Iwish to congratulate the Hon. Minister of Sports Mahindanda Aluthgamage for blowing the lid off the happenings in the Football Federation of Sri Lanka in Parliament recently. It is indeed an encouraging sign. This is the very first time since the inception of the Ministry of Sports in 1965, that a minister has had the courage to reveal the atrocities taking place in the football controlling body.
Apart from the deteriorating standard of football and other kinds of tomfoolery the Hon. Minister quite rightly stated that the dictator rule in the FFSL will have to be demolished.
This exactly is the point I have been emphasizing through years especially in reference to the local football scene. Well done! Sir, where others failed you touched on the sore point in the sport. Now that you have diagnosed the sickness go for its cure.anything on this planet, be it biological, physiological or botanical for that matter, to blossom into full growth and potential, needs basically, (apart from other inputs such as amino, protein, carbohydrates, salts, minerals, sugar, water, fertilizer etc.) a fresh, clean and unpolluted atmosphere. Where there is an absence of such environment cleanliness, the most basic of all needs, the growth of both human or plant life necessarily suffers, if not, be subject to various diseases and disorder. Hence for a healthy and wholesome growth, firstly a clean environment and a fresh atmosphere in my considered view should be a pre-requisite before one could, introduce material, manual or nutritional inputs.
Football is no exception to these requirements. At the helm of the administration it needs men and women with unquestionable integrity and competence to literally offer that clean and fresh environment and atmosphere for an assured growth and development.
It is only after this vital base is formed that we have to look at the technical aspects of the sport, which undoubtedly is the most important and vital. However, if the first phase, namely those at the administrative table lacks in competence and integrity, the second phase with all its technical experience and expertise is bound to fail and flop. Planning, programming and policy making, procurement of materials and equipment, financing projects and train- ing courses, arrangement of fixtures and competitions and making all decisions and directions, though strictly subjects that come under the administrative arm, has a direct effect on the technical aspects of the sport – hence the doubtless need to have officials at the top of calibre competence and commitment who while understanding the implications of their thinking and decisions must equally appreciate the relative effects of such decisions on the coaches, trainers, referees, players and finally the game itself.
With no prejudice whatsoever it is my humble view that football is sadly lacking in men of caliber, competence, commitment and integrity at the base of our controlling body. When one is asked to comment on this matter, one must be charitable and not just comment for the sake of commenting. I must be frank to state that it today’s administrative sphere of football. I do not see a single per- son with a sound knowledge of the game at the helm of affairs. Hence, they cannot control the sport and spread the gospel efficiently like those men of that golden era of Sri Lanka football.the way the winds have blown over the fields of our football in the past few decades must necessarily deny us of a fair and settled weather. In fact, there seems to be no winds of change for the better, all talk and no work, except for a few diversions in the pattern which obviously have had no significant impact in terms of achieving technical excellence on a progressive basis.
After introducing, football professionalism or semi professionalism whatever they may call – have they drawn up a proper plan and programme to produce quality players? If so why are they struggling to produce at least 30 quality players to the national squad to produce fruitful results in the international competitions?
Even in sickness and aliment a medical diagnosis comes first and thereafter changes in medicine are prescribed until the final cure. Why do not we apply these same principles in trying to achieve excellence in football? We either depend on the same doctor for long years until the patient turns serious (in fact, in our case the patient is mostly treated by attendants). There is no change in the prescription either. Even amongst the technical men the world over, regular changes are effected depending on results and results along. In accordance with the norms and football culture all over the world, the coaches and managers either re- spectfully step-down or the controlling body relinquish their services when they fail to produce fruitful results. Here we have a situation of continuity through some scheming and maneuvering – damn the results-damn the sport.
With the Korean expertise and guidance during the last five years, our national team’s disastrous performance at the recently concluded SAFF Football Competition held in New Delhi, was not only cutting us to size but a grim reminder of our performing standards. In brief at regional level we have been on the lower rungs of the ladder for more than a decade and at Asian level we are yet to see the ladder. Our position is worse and are at the bottom at subregional level. From the 126th position in the world ranking since 1995, we are dropped down to the 178th position now. These are undiluted facts and figures, then why ridiculous comments are made by the top brass of the Football Federation? Whom you are trying to defend and protect? We also must bear in mind that our pedestrian standards are in fact, sadly after such colossal grant donations and sponsorships that have come our way with unfettered regularity. Hence the appeal to extra-ordinary men of the FFSL at the top to step down is not only fair and just but the only alternative available if we are to infuse new blood-new thinking and a new vision to give a new lease of life to our football. What matters in the final analysis are results and the level at which they re achieved. Please don’t fool the country and its people by fairy tales. The past players and the soccer loving public have played and witnessed better football over the years in this small and blessed country, then the so-called golden brains and maestros in the sport.
It would do a world of good if the Hon Minister of Sports appoint an independent competent committee with high public appointees who have played the game at a higher level in the caliber of Major General Ananda Chandrasiri – Governer of the North, SSP Benard Silva – director Police Head Quarters, Retired S.P. Sunil Perera, Trevor Reckerman, Col. C.S. Fernando to name a few who will be able to process of screening the drawbacks and the blunders made by the present set-up which has being going on for the last two decades. The Ministry of Sports has a vital and decisive role to play in the renaissance of our football. The ministry must ensure the sport in technically in competent hands, brook no nonsense when we fail to raise out performing standards at least to Asian level. If football is to make an impact in Sri Lanka then no official should be allowed to hang on office too long. Our country is not short of talented players, coaches and administrators. The present officials should pave the way for others and infuse new blood so that there will be personalities who posses new ideas to motive the youth of this country, especially the rural youth to achieve our objectives. His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Hon Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage this is over to you.