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| Sunday, 1 June 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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SLRFU must shoulder blame for declining spectators and standard in rugby football by LAL GUNESEKERA Where is Sri Lanka's rugby heading these days. Take for example the 1960s, 1970s and even the 1980s, spectators at rugby matches were there in their numbers with some even queuing up from 3.30 p.m. to purchase tickets, particularly for the CR & FC vs Havelocks, CH & FC vs CR & FC and Havelocks vs CH & FC games. Where have all these spectators gone? The numbers have been dwindling over the years. Now, even club members hardly attend matches. Why have the spectator interest been going down? The SLRFU must seriously take stock of the situation and make attempts to remedy it. Take for example the current Caltex 'A' Division League Championship. Eleven sides are battling it out since the end of April. Some of these sides like Kandy Youth SC, Kurunegala RFC and Old Zahirians SC have not been offering any opposition at all in their games so far. Why pit them against strong sides so early in the tournament? It only demoralises them. All three sides have figured in five games each so far. Kurunegala and Old Zahirians have given away 509 points and 577 points respectively, while Kandy Youth have 377 points scored against them. Certainly, these three clubs are not to be blamed. Then who is? In my opinion, it's the SLRFU. The SLRFU should have taken a good look at the strengths and weaknesses of these sides before they were admitted into the 'A' division and made to play against top sides like Kandy Sports Club, CR & FC, Army, CH & FC and Havelocks. These three sides (Kandy Youth, Kurunegala and Old Zahirians) have been giving away massive scores. All three sides have lost to Kandy Sports Club by over 100 point margins (Kandy won 172-0 against Kurunegala, 100 to 5 vs Kandy Youth and 141-0 vs Old Zahirians). Army beat both Old Zahirians and Kurunegala by over 100 points, while CR too have had "big wins" and yet to play Kurunegala. CH & FC and Havelocks, too, have done well against these three sides. The spectators want quality rugby. They come to watch rugby of a high standards - not sides getting thrashed by over 100 points and offering little or no resistance at all. Does the SLRFU want quality or is it quantity to show some kind of "development" that is taking place? Come on SLRFU! It's high time to put the house in order. Are foreign players needed to improve our rugby? Certain sides like Kandy SC, CH & FC, Army and even CR & FC seem to have the finances to recruit them in order to win matches and even tournaments. There are two aspects in recruiting these foreigners - they deprive locals of playing for sides, but most important question is why have them if they are unable to play for the Sri Lanka national side? Has Sri Lanka's rugby improved since foreigners were first signed on to play for clubs or has it deteriorated? I leave it to the readers and rugby enthusiasts to judge. Take a good look at Sri Lanka's performances in 7s and 15-a-side tournaments in the recent past. Then take for example the so-called "development" that the SLRFU insists of talking about. True rugby has been spread to various provinces and districts, but this is certainly not the "development". There must be properly trained and qualified coaches to spread the "gospel of rugby" in various areas. Take for example the schools. How many schools have qualified coaches? The basics are taught at school level, so when a player turns up for club practices, a coach can teach them tactical play. Does this happen now? - The answer is 'no'. When school leavers come for club practices now, the coaches have to teach them the basics of the game - thus losing valuable time. This has been told to me by several coaches of club sides. The SLRFU should take the responsibility even now to get down qualified coaches from overseas, train the local coaches who can then in turn, impart their knowledge to the school sides first. It's the same where the referees too are concerned. Some give different interpretations of the rules and there are only a handful of good referees at present. Come on SLRFU! pull up your stockings and try to improve Sri Lanka's rugby standards and not allow it to deteriorate further. The SLRFU are also bringing in bus loads of persons from various areas, including Sabaragamuwa, to witness games on Saturdays and payments for these "trips" are made by the SLRFU. It is on these days that ITN telecasts a match 'live' at a big cost to the SLRFU. This was confirmed by certain members of the Council. Is this "development"? Cannot this money be put to better use? |
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