Officials and players must work together to improve game

Pavilion view by Leslie Fernando

BASKETBALL: The standard of basketball is at low level. Scientifically, technically and strategically the game has dropped due to lack of knowledgeable coaches said Francis de Almeida the founder of the Basketball Coaches Association and former NOC member. He also helped to start Sports Medicine Association.

Another factor for the downward trend of basketball due to faulty administration. If the officials and former players can re-group and share assignments properly the game will definitely reach greater heights as in the good old days, said Francis who started his basketball career at the Borella Seminary. He played for Mercantile Services too.

A reputed coach, Francis was also one-time Secretary Sri Lanka Basketball Federation. He said that there were top administrators like O. K. Hemachandra - Director CID, Major General Paranagama, Air Vice-Marshal, A. B. Soza who worked in honourary capacity for the good of the game.

There was also the two Rev. Fathers Webber and Eugene Herbert who were engaged in forming St. Michael's BC., Batticaloa the school which has produced several national players. St. Michael's also has won the national title.

Francis remembers Sri Lanka's 1984 performances at the Asian Youth Championships in Korea. Sri Lanka were sixth. It was the highest place Sri Lanka has obtained.

Sri Lanka had top players like Percy Perera, selected as the Best Shooter of Asia, Cosmos, Malsiri, Roydon de Silva, Rienzie, Daluwatta, Thurairaja, Duncan and Elmo Jayawardena, Theja Cooray, Nihal, Kamala, Ann to name a few who excelled in this sport for the country.

'Practice makes perfect'

Sheer practice and accurate shooting brought me success in basketball. To improve in any sport or to reach a good standard, the players should train well, in addition to the skill that the players possess, said Dr. Chelliah Thurairaja - the former Royal, University of Colombo and Sri Lanka Army. Besides basketball, Thurairaja has excelled in rugby, badminton, golf and cricket too. He was a Major General in the Army at the time of retirement.

Dr. Thurairaja said that in 1954, Royal College won the Basketball National Championships - first school to win a national title. "My success was due to many sacrifices made and on hard training. I aimed at a goal and I was very successful. We were very fortunate to come under Rev. Cook - an American coach who has represented the USA at World Championships. We played lot of basketball with the American Embassy Peace Corps team and gained lot of knowledge and skill in the game, Thurai said.

Thurai had the honour of captaining the national team and also playing at the Asian Games. The players, besides training should also strengthen the physical training side, do road running which is also important.

Bad administration

The players who aspire to become good 'cagers' should put in lot of individual practice. Furthermore they should be able to master every department of the game _ ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting said Sam Lovell, a former St. Joseph's College, Ottar AC and National basketball player. He was also a reputed soccerite (goal-keeper) and a fine athlete _ a hurdler and a high jumper.

During our playing days we used to practise five against five, adopting fast breaks. We also privately practised shooting and re-bounds in the home garden.

I owe my success to Nareen Jilla of Port Cargo Corporation and Ram Sunderalingam of Old Bens who was national coach who really moulded me to be a good player. In the late 1950s St. Joseph's had a 'crack' side in Anton Selvadurai, Valarian Fernando, Leonard Rupasinghe, Chrishantha Rodrigo, Lou Manthri and myself. Joes became National champions in 1957. I had the opportunity to play against Iran, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and performed well due to hard work", Sam Lovell said.

The standard of basketball was at a high level those days. But it has 'died' a natural death due to poor and bad administration. "My opinion is that the administrators should hold many coaching camps, seminars, clinics regularly to keep the players in the game", Lovell quipped.

Boys helped to improve

Playing with the boys at Depot Police made me improve my game in the sixties. So said Kusuma Gunasekera (Nee Gamwasam) who turned out to be good basketball player.

I gathered speed, mastered the art of rebounds and putting them to good use, Kusuma said. She was former Presbyterian Girls School, Stadium Sports Club and Municipality sportswoman.

Kusuma who has represented the country in basketball, said that those days there were more tournaments and the participation of teams and interest was high compared to now. There are only few tournaments these days. The administrators take no interest to promote this game at the highest - that's level why the standard of basketball has dropped.

In the good old days there was Malcom Andree, late B. A. Jayasinghe (former Municipal Commissioner) and late Mrs. Kusuma George to support and Guide the players.

Kusuma who also excelled in hockey, volleyball and table tennis for Colombo Municipality said that they never had any coaching camps, seminars, clinics arranged. But it was the determination, dedication, hard training, of the player who followed the coaches schedules and maintained physical fitness that not only made her to become a good sportswoman, but helped the others as well.

More tourneys necessary

Great enthusiasm and keen interest shown by late K. Nagalingam, President of Western Province Basketball Federation, we had the chance of playing with several State teams from India and gain lot of exposure during the days we used to play basketball - he said Kamala Kulatilleke, nee de Silva.

Nagalingam regularly invited teams from India at his own expense and he was one of the pioneers in the promotion of basketball in Sri Lanka. Playing with Indian teams, the standard of basketball rose to good heights.

Kamala captained Sri Lanka team in 1978 at the 7th Asain Basketball Championships held in Malaysia.

The standard of basketball has gone down. Present day players lack responsibility and skill. Her opinion is that to improve the game, players should show more dedication and devotion to develop one's basic skills.

Kamala who has represented her shcool - Presbyteriorn girls school, Ramblers, CMC Stadium SC in basketball and netball said that the administrators, must make every effort to form development pools with 'cagers' from schools. More tournaments should be organised amongst the schools and that's a way to find hidden talent.

During the past there were tournaments held regularly and the participation was also high and with more players, the game forced ahead.