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| Sunday, 6 June 2004 |
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Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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From where does FFSL get the finances and how is it spent? Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has come in for a lot of flak for quite a long time in the print media, particularly regarding its administration/administrators, fiances and standard of the game, and what is very surprising is the comment made by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, at a recent gathering, that other controlling bodies should take the FFSL as an example and run their establishments smoothly. He went on to compliment one particular official, who chairs only one Committee in the FFSL when there are so many other individuals holding high office. It hopes as if the Minister has given a character certificate without any credentials. If the FFSL is run smoothly (Minister Kumaratunga thinks it does), then why the criticism made by various persons? True the FFSL has not requested for any financial assistance from the Ministry of Sports for a long time, and this is one reason for the Minister and his officials to find out from the FFSL from where they get their finances, how much and the way they spend it. It is a well known fact that the "Super" structure build by the FFSL to house their headquarters at the Old Race Course and occupied in 2001 cost over Rs. 37 million, and will be interesting to find out how much money came from FIFA (the world governing body) for this "project". SJMS Associates (Chartered Accountants) who are the auditors of FFSL had this to state in the report presented at the AGM of the FFSL. It states: "Final payment certificates issued by the architect in respect of the building has not been finalised, and as a result, FFSL was unable to quantify balance payable to the contractor and amount is still under negotiation". Regarding this building, could the FFSL say as to whom they gave this tender to and also how many applied and who was the lowest tenderer? The Baddegana Project is yet under construction. Here too, how much was received from FIFA, who managed to get the tender and how much has been spent so far? Recently, the FFSL conducted a tournament for schools (which should have been conducted by the Schools Association), involving about 600 in all, in the Under-13, 15 and 17 age groups. The final rounds with 20 schools were completed within three days in Ratnapura and one school had to play three games on one day. What was the cost of the entire exercise? The FFSL spent Rs 33 Lakhs. Rs.18 lakhs alone was spent on the Co-ordinators and Directors of this particular tournament as allowances etc, but if the Schools Association conducted this tournament, there would not have been any financial implications at all, as they have their own authorities all over the island. Why not leave the Schools Association to run their own programmes? The FFSL spent over Rs 15 million a year on its administration last year, where as it was only a little over Rs 4 lakhs in 1992 when all tournaments scheduled for the year were completed on time. What about now? The FA Cup for 2003 was just completed. There are 32 members in the FFSL staff and their salaries and allowances has reached over Rs 3 million without the Chief Executive Officer's salary of US Dollars 400/= (minus allowances) per month paid by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) The standard of the game could be gauged by the number of spectators at matches. The gate collection at the FA cup in 1992 was nearly Rs 3 lakhs (tickets priced at Rs 5 and 25 ), but in 2002, it was Rs 38,515/= with tickets being priced at Rs 20 and 100. Instead of spectators increasing, there has been a decrease. Malaysia played just one game in Sri Lanka in 1992 where the gate collection was Rs 139,000/=, but yet there was an income of over Rs 90,000/= with expenses being only Rs 48,000/=. Vietnam toured Sri Lanka in 2002 and played two games where the gate collection was only Rs 50,910/= with expenses alone being Rs 2 million 738,000/= and the loss showing Rs 2 million 687,000/=. In the 1960s and through to the 1970s, sides from Brazil, Germany, England, USA, Switzerland and Russia to name a few , played in Sri Lanka and even the Southern Pentangular involving some Indian State sides was staged. But now, what is happening? Except for a side making a tour for a tournament, where are the other foreign sides playing in Sri Lanka? The Rupavahini telecasts the "Football Show" every Friday night with FFSL paying them Rs 16 lakhs. Why not make use of this opportunity to get the critics of the FFSL to join in and air their views too? I am certain that these persons will agree to this suggestion, but the FFSL too must be agreeable. In conclusion, has football benefited or who has benefited is the big question? |
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