Lest we forget thanks-to all football legislators who helped the cause
To know and appreciate the growth and development of football in Sri Lanka it is necessary that one should know the history of the game.
The first National Controlling Body for Football in Sri Lanka - (then Ceylon) was formed in 1939 under the name, the “Ceylon Football Association”. The following office bearers were elected: Patron - Sir John Tarbat, President - Mr. C.W. Mackie (Jnr), Vice Presidents- Messrs J.C. Robinson , J. Forbes, S.C. Traill, R. Brough, and Col Stanley Fernando. Hony. Secretary — R. Mackie Hony. Treasurer - M. Donovan Andree. By this time, the Second World War was in full cry, and though uninvolved directly, Ceylon was adopting precautionary measures in almost every field of activity. Naturally, the activities of the newly formed Ceylon Football Association had to be curbed and limited
With the second world war over and the debris cleared, the Ceylon Football Association renowned its activities with vigour in 1946 with Capt W.T. Brindley as President, A.A. Perera as Secretary and Cecil Bocks as Treasurer. In 1948 Dr. A.R.M. Waffan, a knowledgeable and keen follower of British Football, took over as Secretary of the Ceylon FA. and was followed by A.W. Musafer who re-shaped the destiny of local football with his sharp, sure and sensible approach to the sport. Subsequently the Ceylon Football Association was re- structured and re - named the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. The following were the distinguished personalities who adorned the office of President in the Ceylon F.A or the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. Messrs , C.W. Mackie (Jnr), Captain M.T. Brindley, G.L. Yule , Cdr G.R.M. De Mel , E A. Badman, Sir Allan Rose , Dr. W.R. Chanmugam, Hon. V.A. Sugathadasa, N.D. Wijesekera, Senator M.D. Kilchilan, Magistrate B.G.S. David, Snr D.I.G. Van Twest, Dunstan De Alwis, V.M. Fernando , H.W.H. Weerasinghe, Hon Weerasinghe, Mallimarachchi.
The names of the Hony Secretaries who made football the number one sport in our land are worthy of mention. Messrs J.C. Bocks, A.A. Perera, Dr. A.R.M. Waffan, A.W. Musafer, B.C. Hendricus, P.M.S. Wijesundaram, M.H. Yusuf, J.J. Sarangapany, V.K. Arumugam, R. Jeewaratnam and Lt Col C.S. Fernando. It was their flair, enthusiasm and drive that made football a household name in the country, particularly between the 1940’s and the 1970’s. However, in 1982, the Football Federation was dissolved and in its place, a Board of Control for Football was appointed by the Minister of Sports, Hon Vincent Perera, to run its affairs under the leadership of F,A Yaseen. At the end of four years the Hon Minister re-convened the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, dissolving the Board of Control for Football, which did not measure up to the needs and aspirations of a truly National body. Limited in composition, it could not resurrect the game on a broad based representative scale. In 1987 the Football Federation of Sri Lanka was re-convened with the participation of existing Football leagues around the island and the armed forces.
It must be recorded with utmost gratitude, the selfless service of some of our football legislators of the era when the sport was in full bloom and popular in our country and International performance were a matter of national pride. Messrs, Dahanayake , Ferreira, Samarasekera, and Sooriarachchi from the Southern Province. Jainudeen, W.B. Abeysinghe , K. Abeysinghe, Huge Perera and Hameem from the Central region. Packeer Mohamed , Ranaweera, Goonewardena and Aboosally from the Sabragamuwa Province. Soysa and Amarapala from the Uva Basin. Stanislaus, Rambukpitiya, Chamarasinghe and K B Ratnayake from Rajarata Plains. J.C. Albert Sundaramoorthy, Arasaratnam and Wijesundaram from the Eastern Province. Arumugam, Kanagasabai, Kanagalingam, Sabalingam , Kumariah, and Dr. Phillips representing the Northern Province, Reggie Jayawardena , Riyaldeen, Lionel Fernando and Dustan de AIwis from the Western Zone, Messrs V.A. Sugathadasa , B.G.S. David, A.W. Musafer, Dr. A.R.M. Waffan, Velayuthan, David Nanayakkara, T.K. Buhar, Tom Laxana, W.K. Somapala, S.K. Goonawardene, S. Vargheese, M.S.M. Sally, S.A. Perera, G.A.K. Abeysekera and M.D. Fernando representing Colombo . C. Heenatigala, Reggie , Jayawardene , Daya Tennakoon, J.P.N. Fernando from the Mercantile Sector , were a few of the many illustrious councilors the game was fortunate to have. From the services Rear Admiral Royce de Mel, Brig Douglas Ramanayake, Lt. Col Kandiah, Maj Amirthalingam, Sqr U N.A.Rahim, Cmd A. R.C. Fernando and M.B. Weerapitiya some of the finest men ever to grace the Council of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. Their knowledge and commitment to the sport were of a high order. Their analytical minds decisive directives, sharp and witty retorts, and the trust and parry of debate made Council meeting almost a seat to learning. But what of today? My guess is as good as yours, indeed. We may never see these men of destiny any longer , but if selfish interests are cast aside , we may yet find enough equality men to guide the destiny of this sports, both at League football and in the National body.
History will not be complete if appreciation is not recorded of the encouragement and assistance extended to the sport by our Heads of state such as D.S. Senanayake , Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawela, Srimavo Bandaranayake and President R. Premadasa. The singular contribution to football by President R. Premadasa in the recent past needs no elaboration. The re-developed Sugathadasa Stadium shall standard as a living monument to his unremitting devotion and sincere admiration of the common man’s sports - football. His magnanimous monthly grant of Rs. 60,000/- (big money at that period) towards the sustenance of the National Football team is a reflection of his abiding interest in the sport and his genuine concern for the welfare of the players.
When talking about the Sugathadasa stadium, we just can’t forget Hon Sports Minister V.A. Sugathadasa who converted the garbage dump to a stadium with the aim of helping the poor soccer players and athletics to do their regular training. Further, gave the football loving public of this country an opportunity to witness quality football. It is very unfortunate, this venue which is now encroached by people who use it for musical shows and other activities.
In conclusion, I wish to mention it is rather disappointing to note in recent times, that not much headway has been made technically organizationally to improve the playing standards of the game or its promotion as a truly national sport. The Zest and Zeal with which initially the game was planned and promoted.
Leaving the sport almost unplayed in some parts of the country. Schools too which had football as their principal sport gave way to other disciplines for want of initiative and promotion. Today at and of 73 years of Association football, we are in the midst of this unfortunate phenomenon. However, with the peerless tradition the game has had and the equally enviable record of more than 100 years of its existence in this country, it will certainly not be a task beyond our reach to revive and resurrect the sport. It should be an obligation if not duty for those who are called upon to guide its destiny to sit around the table shedding petty differences and diversions uniting in the resolve that every effort should be made to bring football back to its pristine glory and fame.