Power World to fine-tune Abdeen Rugby Academy ruggerites

By Srian OBEYESEKERE

Building Rugby players: The nutritional consultant at the Power World fitness centre based in Kollupitiya, headed by former S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia ruggerite Ealavou Alailima, has joined hands with the Hisham Abdeen Rugby Foootball Academy (HARFA) - the finishing school of rugby - as a partner in giving freshers the much needed fitness work out which he stressed is so important in today's hi-tech sports world in fine tuning ruggerites to international standard.

"I'm joining hands with Abdeen because it is an endorsement that I believe in him," said the 39-year old Alailima whose father is a Samoan.

Currently Alailima, who is exclusively in charge of Trinity College rugby in marshalling the Kandy school's ruggerites as well as the Air Force rugby team, elaborated that he would help Abdeen's HARFA in monitoring the fitness of his ruggerites through specific gym training and still importantly the diet they take.

Alailima, made out that his job is to produce six footers in Sri Lanka in breaking the myth that Sri Lankans are physically small in comparison to international ruggerites. The height will contribute towards a Sri Lanka rugby establishment that will help the country becoming No. 1 in Asia and then qualifying to play in a World Cup. But this requires a certain amount of time with emphasis on diet.

"Who said it cannot be done? It can be done! Sri Lankans must learn to believe in themselves. I don't agree that Sri Lankans are physically handicapped. It all depends on their building their bodies by becoming strong. Sri Lanka has a major problem, there are boys like under 19ers playing a man's game. In a man's game, players should be ideally 27, 28 and 29. That is why we are getting hammered. Players incredibly too young, make up the national side," opined the former ruggerite cum fitness trainer who is working with Trinity.

He reasoned that youngsters paramountly needed time to catch up to become muscled. "If singled out at 8 years, players could be giants.

Sri Lankans are genetically small 'because of the junk they consume. In another country kids end up like trees. Here, this is the decline. Youngsters need to be taught how to consume food by also educating their parents on what nutrition they should be given.

Saying that Power World was working for the second year with Trinity, Alailima underlined the fact that he was focusing on sponsoring all rugby clubs with gyms, so that Colombo teams would be physically strong. "By this, Kandy Sports Club won't be playing weak team in Colombo.

Today, there is a distance between Kandy and CR. If we can set every match which is a high competition for Kandy then they won't have it easy. I Want every match to be tough where Kandy, would be at the receiving end. I believe I can do a lot towards this end by setting the stage where coaches would play a key role," he predicted, emphasising the fact that in Sri Lanka one does the same thing until an example is set.