Kishu Gomes - Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants says...

'Make Rugby Football known to the masses!'

By Jatila KARAWITA

RUGBY: The flagship sponsor of Sri Lanka rugby, Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, believes that awareness of the game among fans both in the metropolis and outstations will be a key aspect in further spreading the sport in the length and breadth of Sri Lanka.

"This awareness of rugby is something that rural people and even the masses in the city ought to have," CEO cum Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, Kishu Gomes told Sunday Observer in an interview.

"Not only in the outstations, even in Colombo as a rugby fan what I have noticed is that there are a vast number of people who follow rugby, but, they are not well versed with either the laws or rules of the game."

"That is something for the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), the media and even for us as sponsors to look at and work on," Gomes said.

He also pointed to the huge interest and keen awareness to rugby displayed by no less a figure than President Mahinda Rajapaksa whose three sons (Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha) all captained S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia.

Trend set by President

"The trend has been set by President Rajapaksa and it is up to the public to take the cue from him," Gomes said and added:

"If the President can take such an interest in rugby, I can't see any reason why his subjects cannot do likewise. "It is up to the people to further enhance their knowledge of rugby if they want the sport to take root in this country."

Gomes, an avid follower of the game, both locally and globally, despite his pressing schedule noted that it was up to clubs in Colombo to introduce young 'blood' if they hope to match a side like Kandy SC next year.

He stressed that youngsters should be drafted into the first XV teams systematically so that they could take over from seniors gradually.

Kandy needs commendation

Gomes, speaking on behalf of his firm, stated that Kandy SC's dominance of domestic rugby tournaments in the past decade or so was a no mean feat which should be commended by all and sundry.

He singled out teams like Police SC, Havelocks SC and CR & FC for playing quality rugby throughout the League but agreed that champions Kandy SC had elevated their skill factor a touch higher to remain undefeated during the concluded season.

Kandy SC led by blindside flanker Sean Wijesinghe retained the Caltex Inter-Club League title for an unprecedented eighth successive year while they also retained the prestigious Caltex Clifford Cup (the country's oldest rugby trophy on offer) for a second consecutive year to further confirm their superiority in the game.

"As a sponsor, I would not grumble about Kandy SC's dominance," the genial CEO of Chevron Lubricants Lanka said.

Give deserving youth a break

"It is like that in several other sports even globally. Take Australia for example in cricket. Then look at the All Blacks in rugby, US in international track and field. There is no harm in one team continuing to conquer all, but, the aim of other teams should be to challenge the dominance and superiority of that one particular team or country by keeping pace with the champions or even by introducing new methods and by giving deserving youth a break," Kishu Gomes said.

He also was satisfied with the attendance of spectators at key matches despite live television coverage, but stressed that more spectators at matches would make rugby as popular as cricket.

Gomes also praised the SLRFU, the media and the rest of the rugby stakeholders for the positive mileage received by his firm in the concluded 2008 inter-club season and assured that his company will continue to be the chief sponsor till their 10-year contract expires in 2010.