Coaches accuse players of fixing matches at SAG

Fact finding mission likely to hand over report to the minister on February 12

Match-fixing is generally associated with cricket but this menace has now crept into other sports as well with allegations of players underperforming to fix the outcome in three sports - cycling, volleyball and basketball – at the 13th South Asian Games ( SAG) in Nepal having surfaced.

These accusations have been made by coaches themselves to a Fact Finding Committee set up by Sports Minister Dullas Allahapperuma on January 1 sending shockwaves among the sporting community in the country. The four-member committee comprising Gregory de Silva, a former national selection committee secretary as chairman, Saman Kumara Gunawardena, Director of Sports at

University of Kelaniya, Air Vice Marshal ( retd) Elmore Perera and Daminda Wijesuriya, a veteran sports editor, has made some strong recommendations in their report which is likely to be handed over on February 12, according to committee sources.

The committee was requested to submit their findings to the minister before January 27 but it has not been done so far. It is reliably understood that the committee in their recommendation has called for a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to probe the issues related to mismanagement at the SAG and blacklist anyone found guilty of negligence.

Sri Lanka was represented by 573 athletes and 329 officials at the Games, winning 40 gold, 83 silver and 128 bronze medals for a total of 251.

When comparing our performance in 2016, Sri Lanka has dropped down a place to third but in terms of acquiring medals it is the highest since 1991 when Sri Lanka first hosted the SAF Games.

However, the committee heard many complaints regarding the selection of teams, organisational mishaps before, and after the team returned from Kathmandu.

Among the main concerns is accusations of match fixing by coaches against players in three sports – cycling, volleyball and basketball.

Officials of these bodies were invited by the committee but only the cycling federation turned up.

The local organising committee has been heavily criticized for mismanagement of athletes in the lead-up to the Games.

“The reason is because the National Olympic Committee and Sport

Ministry were at loggerheads and engaged in a tug-o-war with each other. The high number of medals achieved this time was because India did not take part in some events not because our performances was extraordinary. There was also no competition from other countries. Therefore we cannot be complacent about the number of medals won,” committee sources said.

“For example, in 1991 there were only 10 sports. Sri Lanka won 118 medals including 44 gold, 34 silver and 40 bronze medals. The 251 medals were secured by competing in 27 sports. These performances are not anywhere near Asian level which is the next stage after SAG. The athletes did not achieve any personal best performances.

“Although the last SAG was held three years and half years ago, our preparation for Kathmandu Games began only three months prior to the event. One reason was because of the

constant changes in key positions at the sports ministry, including ministers,” sources explained.

The Sports Ministry has been found wanting in carrying out their responsibilities especially in coordinating the progress of the national pool.

“Furthermore, the associations did not appoint suitable managers, appointing their personal favourites though some of them don’t have a clue about the sport. The athletes suffered because of the inefficiency of the some of these managers, not receiving the proper facilities due to them.”

As a result, due to the lack of coordination they faced lot of problems. “There was no proper communication between athletes, coaches and managers,” committee sources added.

There was also friction between the highest officials in the ministry to the lowest worker. Some of the officials in the ministry, selected officials whom they favoured because of the huge monetary benefits.

Chef de Mission Major General (retd) Dampath Fernando has to be given credit for preparing an excellent report that gives a fair picture regarding the shortcoming Sri Lanka faced during the Games.

According to the Sports Law, the manager is supposed to submit his report within 14 days but apart from Dampath most of them have not submitted their reports.

An exorbitant sum of cash has been spent.

“The ministry has spent more than 300 million rupees for the entire Games. Only football, cricket and NOC representatives appeared before the committee to answer queries,” said a committee member.