KORNERKICK makes one last lament for Football!
On the 17 September, Rukmal Perera, one of the cornerstones of Sri Lanka Football was laid to rest. He had gallantly fought till the bitter end to recover from a debilitating illness but the battle had taken its toll and the once lovable and domineering figure had played his last game. In more ways than one, Rukmal came to epitomize the fate of Sri Lanka Football; a lot of promise but a victory cut short by myriad distractions and a fateful disposition that was bereft of goals in destiny’s ruthless summation. Many would remember the cheerful goliath on most match days, both here in the insecure playgrounds of the hint e rland as we l l as in International World Cup arenas of the largest cities, striding purposefully to do what he did best; enjoy the game in all its allure. But for himself and his team that was no recompense or reward beyond the miserable morsels that were strewn in the labyrinth of Football House. That is the crucible of Sri Lanka Football; forlorn, foreclosed and forgotten by the powers that be at the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee; harbingers of popular sports in our island!
KornerKick has no more to say; the least said the better it bemoans! It will make one last epitaph as it must, having made many salvos from all corners of the sport and from where it was played, administered and dismembered over the years! Even the mass media appears to have no space for this sport and when it