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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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Arrogance of SLRFU Straight talk by Lal Gunasekara The hierarchy of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) seems to be living in a world of their own with arrogance being the key word. Only last week I suggested that the SLRFU must have a much better rapport with the clubs and the referees. But now what has happened? The referees have refused to "blow" at the Clifford Cup Knock-Out Championships which got under way on Friday, and this too after the SLRFU withdrew their suspension on the CR & FC who even went to the extent of taking the controlling body to court to settle the issue. The Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Association (SLRRA) has not been given an assurance by the SLRFU that club officials do not insult and cause harm to the referees during and after the games which has been happening in the past and continue to occur. There is also no insurance cover for the referees with a top-notch official of the SLRFU having said casually "we will see what could be done". The referees have also not been paid their travelling expenses for the concluded League Championship. What about the disappearance of Fijian Joshua Kala of the CR & FC? He assaulted referee Aruna Jayasekera at the second-round league game on August 1 between CR and Havelocks at Havelock Park and when about to be arrested by the Police did the 'vanishing trick' with the help of one CR player with connections. However, the SLRFU have not even written to the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) or the International Rugby Board (IRB) on this matter upto date, leave alone informing the SLRRA about action taken or already taken. Keep close tag On the issue of overseas players who are contracted to turn out for local clubs, it would be advisable for the SLRFU to take over their travel documents (passports, return air tickets) as they land in Colombo through the clubs who signed them on. This will not permit them to do the 'vanishing trick' after committing a crime as in the case of Kala. I hope that the SLRFU will take this suggestion into consideration, if they decide to give the 'green light' for players to be recruited from abroad next season (2005). The 6th edition of the Singer-SriLankan Airlines International 7's upgraded by the IRB as an Asian qualifier for the Rugby World Cup was conducted successfully last week with Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei qualifying to play in Hong Kong next year. But there were the unsavoury incidents attached too. The media were given step-motherly treatment, while three Japanese referees appointed by the IRB were seen kicking their heels at their hotel even at 9.30 p.m. waiting for transport to take them to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for their return flight just after mid night. Then, Deputy President of the SLRFU, Priyantha Ekanayake, was seen introducing the two finlists (Japan and South Korea) to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, perhaps being nominated by Kandy Sports Club to hold office in the SLRFU, would have been one reason, but the President of the SLRFU, Mohan Balasuriya, too should have been there at the introduction ceremony. He was, but in the pavilion in shorts and T-Shirt. Big farce The Clifford Cup tournament is a big farce without the CH & FC and Police. Only six teams (Kandy SC, CR & FC, Havelocks, Army, Navy and Air Force) are in the fray and Kandy SC look certain to add another trophy to their long list. The SLRFU should have cancelled this tournament for the year, also taking into consideration the forthcoming Asiad to be staged in Hong Kong next month. Were they thinking of the Rs. 1.9 million sponsorship money from Caltex for this event. Caltex also pumped in Rs. 2.8 million for the League Championship and are very unhappy with the state of affairs prevailing in the SLRFU. The SLRFU also collects Rs. 9.8 million a year from the IRB for development, but are these funds put into use in a proper manner? New Zealander George Simpkin was hired as Technical Advisor to the SLRFU and paid Rs. 300,000 per month. It was during the time of former Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Johnston Fernando, that this came about with the agreement being signed between the ex-Minister's Private Secretary (Jeremy Amarasinghe) and the SLRFU. The Ministry was to pay this sum to Simpkin, but now the SLRFU has reduced it and doles out Rs. 200,000 a month to the New Zealander, who is also in charge of the development programme. I wonder what Arjun Dharmadasa's duties are as Chairman of the Development Committee of the SLRFU? Also, does George Simpkin pay income tax to the Inland Revenue Department and if not, why? Balls late There is also the question of importing 4000 odd balls at a cost of US Dollars 8500 from Hong Kong. The draft was sent in May, but the balls arrived only last week. How long does it take for a draft to reach its detination and were quotations called for? The SLRFU usually used to call for about three quotations and Sathosa used to supply the balls at Rs. 385 each. Still on the SLRFU, what has happened to the 'B' Division Knock-Out Championship and when is it going to be staged? Who were the league champions in tournaments conducted by Provincial Unions? Also, what has happened to the tournament tagged as Inter-Provincial Championship where India and Pakistan too participated last year together with Western Province, Central Province and Defence Services? Sources say that India were reluctant to accept the invitation as the SLRFU had proposed a lengthy two-week event. Get foreign coach In the past, the swimming authorities used to get scholarships for young swimmers who figured prominently in major meets to be trained abroad with the assistance of the local NOC and IOC. But this is not happening now. Swimmers like Condrad Francis, Theekshana Ratnasekera, Ghofari Dulapandan, Intikhab Sikkander, Shehani Gunasena, Upeksha Silva to name a few, received specialised training overseas. Now, 14-year-old Prabha Madhavi Dharmadasa who has set up 17 new records at seven meets and picked as the best swimmer at all of them, should be considered for specialised training by a top overseas coach. There are a few others who should get this type of training with the future in mind. Over to you, President of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), Rear Admiral Wasantha Karanagoda. |
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