Develop the players – the game will follow

“Presently there is a pending inquiry on the massive defeat Sri Lanka suffered against Maldives. The truth is we all are part and parcel of this mishap on this debacle. As former players and present administrators we have to be impartial and open minded in taking on these issues as they are sensitive matters that effects us as a nation. On the lead up to this event, Sri Lanka has won championships at South Asian level, performed well as a team at Asian level and there was an era when our football was much stronger than today and parallel to European standards.

“At the same time we have suffered defeats. Winning and losing is part and parcel of any sport. But what is happening today is a serious issue that needs a permanent and perfect remedy.

So much of appalling incidents have taken place until Sri Lanka got thrashed by Maldives last month. Over the past decade Sri Lanka had an honourable status as an excellent football playing nation. But Sri Lanka came into the record books of football when the top administration decided not to let the Technical Department of Football Federation of Sri Lanka inspect on the developments of the national side.

“The role of the Technical Department is not to get involved or interfere with the team’s progress and manage- ment. Its role is vital and essential to the team’s progress and development before an important tournament, which includes oversee the conduct of the coach, inspect the players and their discipline, check on the practice schedules, discuss about the progress and about the areas that need to be addressed immediately and more importantly make assessments about the opponents we are going to face by studying their football history, performances and players. These are all part of modern day football strategies. This has been the practice until the recent tour.

“At some incidents, some coaches take things personal, thinking that it’s a process to demoralize the team and its players. But in reality it helps any team in a big way. This practice was not in existence some decades ago but as a nation Sri Lanka performed well. But when all other countries practice this procedure why is Sri Lanka opting to ignore it. Had we adopted it the humiliation would have not come on us or as officials more would have held responsible. But nobody is willing to take the blame for the debacle.

“Generally football is not a professional game in Sri Lanka. So anyone can implement any suggestions on the field or before a game is played, without studying return impact of it. Domestically football is not an attractive sport though it was one-time the famous and most followed. It was called the sport of the poor because the general public, poor, middle class and the rich loved it. But over the years the standard deteriorated owing may reasons. Gradually the standard of the local clubs and the football they played became not so impressive, though the game existed at certain areas.

“Football belongs to everyone. The FFSL is conducting a serious programme to gather all former players and captains in order to take their views on how football reached this standard and what are components that caused this situation. Now everyone talks about the standard of football after the defeat against Maldives. But the truth is this is not a result of something which took place overnight. There are other matters involved too, such as the disarray within the football fraternity which caused nothing but the failing standards of the sport.

So if the club standard reaches the bottom, it’s natural for the national standard to be below average.

“In my opinion football should reach professionalism. Today some clubs are gradually attempting to adopt this by paying its players. But the truth is most of the football players are employed fulltime or they have other burdens and commitments. It’s the duty of the top administrators to think of a genuine way to resolve this matter.

“At present the FFSL is trying to introduce comprehensive plans from the junior age categories and I think it’s a positive beginning. In addition the administration, former players and all stakeholders must work together as a team with genuine harmony to uplift the sport.