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| Sunday, 8 August 2004 |
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Kala's assault on ref., CR, the SLRFU and wholesale thuggery CR & FC is a club with a 82-year-old proud history behind them. However, August 1, 2004 was a big black mark on it. The venue was Havelock Park and CR were playing their traditional rivals Havelocks SC in a Caltex `A' Division League Rugby Championship game. A penalty was awarded against the CR by referee Aruna Jayasekera and all hell broke out. CR's Fijian recruit No.8 Joshua Kala, disputed the penalty and brutally attacked the referee, who took a powerful blow on his face, breaking one of his tooth and even needing a stich on his lip as well. A statement was recorded at the Police Post at the Colombo General Hospital, and even an entry lodged at the Narahenpita Police Station by Jayasekera. It was rowdyism of the highest order and must not be tolerated by the CR & FC, SLRFU (the local controlling body) and even the International Rugby Board (IRB), whose rules and regulations are quite clear on this type of behaviour. According to the IRB rules, a statement has to be sent to them by the local governing body and a decision whether to ban the player concerned for life will be taken. Kala was here in Colombo as the assistant coach to the Thailand national side which played Sri Lanka in a World Cup qualifier which the Lankans won. CR then signed on Jeshua Kala as a player and what a rowdy he turned out to be. Even at the CH & FC vs CR & FC game at Maitland Crescent on July 24, Kala was sent into Sin Bin and the referee on this occasion too was Aruna Jayasekera. Even after he was sent to Sin Bin, I clearly saw Kala disputing infringements blown by the referee from the touch lines. Why was not Kala advised by his club to refrain from this type of behaviour even then? Good riddance There is no doubt that Kala is guilty of assaulting the referee who suffered injuries, and should be banned for life. He should be sent packing-bag and baggage, back to the Fiji Islands where he belongs, never to step foot again on a rugby field. I understand that he left the country on the night of this incident. It was good riddance of bad rubbish (GROBR). The Thailand RU too must be informed of Kala's exploits and they too should keep him out of their country. This type of player should never be permitted to have anything to do with rugby again. No action against CH player Quite a similar incident took place on the previous day (July 31) where the Kandy Sports Club (the defending champions) took on CH & FC at Nittawela. CH's Sashi Cooray (one of the prop forwards) had allegedly pushed the referee Aruna Rankothge after teammate Fijian Rakata was shown the `red card'. What action will the CH & FC and even the SLRFU take against this player too? I also learn that Cooray had allegedly assaulted CH & FC President Iqbal Hassan (better known as `Hersey') at the social that followed the CH vs CR game on July 24. What a disgrace. Is it a coincidence that Kala was involved in three incidents where the referee was Aruna Jayasekera? The first was when the Thais showed displeasure at the referring in their game with Sri Lanka and then followed the incidents at the CH vs CR and Havelocks vs CR games subsequently. Is there a connection? At the beginning of the season, the two No.8 forwards of both Havelocks and Air Force were shown the `red card' by the referee, and both players were Fijian recruits. But what happened in the end? Both players were warned and discharge by the SLRFU!! Head butting coach Another point to be stressed is the behaviour of coaches. At the CR vs Havelocks game, Tony Amith (a former national coach and head of the Referees Society to boot) presently coaching Havelocks was seen `head butting' his opposite number Asanga Seneviratne. I can also remember CH coach Graham Raux arguing with referee Aruna Jayasekera after Fujian Jim Bolokoro was shown the `red card' during the game. Better behaviour is expected from them. I wonder what the contents of the reports from Aruna Jayasekera (CH vs CR and Hacelocks vs CR) and Viper Gunaratne (Kandy vs CH) contained to the SLRFU? We are all awaiting to see what action the SLRFU takes on these matters. It's a bloody disgrace. There was another incident at the Army vs CR game at Galle Face on July 16. Here, in front of the Army `big wigs' CR players were set upon. This even happened at a `B' Division game involving Air Force and Police at Ratmalana's Kotalawela Defence Academy ground with Police players assaulted by supporters of the opposing side. Won't blow Now, at an emergency meeting on Monday night, the referees have decided not to `blow' at any games involving CH & FC and CR & FC until `suitable action' is taken by the SLRFU. The referees cannot be found fault with. Two of their top referees Dilroy Fernando and Nizam Jamaldeen had to face verbal abuse last season, but the matter was settled. It's the game that suffers in the end. I warned the SLRFU about thuggery and rowdyism creeping in to the local rugby arena in my column on July 18. It's high time that the SLRFU does something to eradicate this menace once and for all. It's never too late. If club players and officials behave in this manner, what could one expect from schoolboys? It happened recently at an under-17 game at that-between St.Joseph's and St.Peter's. It's not all about winning that counts in the end, but how you play the game. The clubs too should be careful in signing on overseas players. Surely there is an `agent' who recommends them to various clubs and they too should be held responsible for recommending thugs such as Kala. Surprisingly, the Havelocks too recruited some of these players at the beginning of the season and after a few games found that these players were far below expectations and sent them packing. Anil Jayasinghe left out I also understand that the Referees Society had nominated four of their members to officiate at the forthcoming IRB 7's organised by Kandy Sports Club to be staged at Nittawela. They were - Dilroy Fernando, Nizam Jamaldeen, Aruna Jayasekera and D. Nimal. Why was Anil Jayasinghe, who is on the international panel left out? Anyway, the IRB, it is learnt, has accepted the nomination of only Dilroy Fernando. Jayasinghe, in the meantime, has refused to referee any more games this season. How was D. Nimal nominated? Your guess is as good as mine. NOC Retracts The head of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka, Hemasiri Fernando, had reportedly in an outburst after the SAF Games in Islamabad last April, single out Susanthika Jayasinghe to have been the most indisciplined athlete. But, now what has happened? The NOC, by all accounts has retracted by appointing this same athlete as the country's overall captain for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. On Susanthika again. She has failed to qualify for the 200 metres in which she won a bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. However, she has qualified for the 100 metres and it will be interesting to see weather her leg injury will crop up again before she faces the starter in Athens. 8 Athletes, 20 Officials!!! Overall, I cannot see any Sri Lankan winning, or even coming close to winning a medal in Athens. I am not been unpatriotic, but one has to face facts. Another interesting point is that Sri Lanka's team consists of only eight competitors (five athletes, two swimmers and one rifle shooter), but over 20 officials are flying to Athens with Dialog GSM sponsoring the Sri Lanka contingent to a tune of Rs. 3.5 million. |
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