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| Sunday, 10 March 2002 |
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Give Jaffna netballers a break by Leslie Fernando If better facilities are provided Jaffna girls will be able to play netball at a higher level in Jaffna and also compete with the teams in the island. Despite the lack of facilities, the girls show lot of dedication and enthusiasm in the game, said Mrs. Antine Florence Jude Rubasingham, the netball chief and coach of the Jaffna District Netball Association who was present during the final of the Mercantile League Netball Championships. Furthermore if the security gates from Jaffna to Colombo are open even cricket, soccer and athletic teams are happy and eager to visit Colombo, said Mrs. Rubasingham. A netball team last came from Jaffna to Colombo in 1998 to play a few games in an invitation tournament organised by then President, Tamara Dharmakeerthi Herath. "We are very thankful to the Mercantile AAA (netball section) and the sponsors Masons Mixture Managing Director Siri Fernando for inviting the Jaffna District NA team to participate. This year's tournament has been dedicated to the theme of peace which is also the current focus of attention nationally. As such the organisers and the sponsors have invited teams from Jaffna, Vavuniya and Trincomalee," said Mrs. Rubasingham. Jaffna team is blessed with talented players, but is unable to improve their performances. "We need equipment, and an indoor stadium and qualified netball coaches and referees to have more tournaments" Mrs. Rubasingham lamented. Jaffna District Netball Association plans to conduct the inter-school netball championships shortly. She said that they have had no sponsors for any tournament, and requested the authorities to help find a sponsor. Coaches Mrs. Rubasingham said that she had requested the NFSL to send some coaches to Jaffna to train the coaches and players, and also some examiners to teach the umpires in Jaffna the latest rules. Mrs. Rubasingham who was one of the players in 1973 victorious team, (Jaffna DNA became all-island inter-league champions) said that she had conducted netball clinics for teachers and clubs in Karaveddy, Point Pedro, Vaddukkoddai, Chankani and Sandilipay. There are six graduates in the team of 12 players but all six without jobs. If these six are provided employment in Colombo they will be happy to continue with the game in Colombo, the coach disclosed. Mrs. Rubasingham thanked the Sports Minister, Johnston Fernando for coming to their rescue and promptly arranging an air craft through the Defence Ministry 'for us to come to Colombo in time for the matches.' Good relations She expressed her gratitude to former President of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka, Tamara Dharmakeerthi Herath who was the Past Mercantile AAA (netball section) President and the Co-ordinator of the Mercantile League Netball Championships. Mrs. Rubasingham said that the relationship and goodwill between the Jaffna team and Tamara had grown from strength to strength. "During her period as the netball chief, Tamara had rendered yeoman service to our netballers and she continues to support the team. The players love her and they say Tamara is like a mother to them. Tamara was responsible for inviting us in 1998 and also for the Mercantile League Tournament. Tamara has been the guiding light for the Jaffna team", said Rubasingham. When contacted, Tamara, who is the Sri Lanka representative of the Asian Netball Federation, said that she will make every effort to find a sponsor for the Jaffna netball team soon. "I have discussed a lot of plans with Mrs. Rubasingham for the promotion of netball in Jaffna District. Once the development plan for netball is implemented, a sponsor will be found for Jaffna netballers," said Tamara. The Jaffna netball team had the privilege of visiting the Parliament on Wednesday and were introduced to Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapakse and several other ministers. Sports Minister, Johnston Fernando hosted the team to lunch at the Parliament complex and he was behind the scene of arranging the teams visit to the Parliament. |
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