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| Sunday, 29 August 2004 |
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Like pouring water on duck's back Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Its like pouring water on a duck's back. I am of course referring to the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), which has come in for criticism from various quarters in the recent past, but to no avail. This is one sports controlling body that needs no financial assistance from the government, who through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports allocates certain sums of monies annually to these controlling bodies. But not the FFSL who do not want any financial assistance and have not even requested for same from the Ministry. They get plenty of money from FIFA (the world controlling body) as well as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Even Sidath Sri Nandalochana, a respected personality, who was appointed to head a committee in 2000 by the then Minister of Sports. Lakshman Kiriella, to suggest reforms to the existing Sports Law brought in the 1970s by the late K.B. Ratnayake when he was the Minister of Sports, recommended that monies coming from overseas to local sports controlling bodies be channelled through the Ministry of Sports, who in turn could give it over to the controlling bodies concerned. This committee had even suggested a fine or term of imprisonment for failure to inform the Secretary to the Sports Ministry of any foreign remittances. Nandalochana even told me that the committee had received several complaints regarding the finances of the FFSL. Now it's over four years, and this report seems to be gathering dust at the Ministry of Sports. This might keep a tight check on monies coming from overseas and the way they are spent. However, unscrupulous officials are certain of finding ways and means to find some sort of loophole in the law. Allegations are that certain amounts of monies from overseas ends up in the pockets of certain unscrupulous officials, who are found in many controlling bodies. They seem to possess buffalo skins. Do these officials once selected to hold high office declare their assets to the Ministry of Sports like the Parliamentarians do ? If not, a law should be brought in Parliament and put it into effect. It will be very interesting indeed to see the assets of these officials when elected to office and assets when they complete their term. It's high time for the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeevan Kumaratunga, to bring in legislation and try to put an end to various hanky panky practices adopted by officials, particularly concerning finances in numerous controlling bodies, and even bring the National Olympic Committee (NOC) under its wing. They (the NOC) operates as it its their own "private kingdom" and persons clamour to hold office in this body, for reasons well known. The NOC is now in the process of amending its constitution too. For whose benefit is this in aid of? Coming back to the FFSL, it is well-known that between the FIFA and AFC, the FFSL, received over Rs. 255 million between 1999 and 2003. How were these monies spent? The FFSL also received financial assistance from FIFA for its grand headquarter building and the Baddegana Stadium, and I understand that monies due to the contractor of the HQ building has not yet been settled in full, despite coming into occupation about three years back. Has the game of soccer benefitted from these monies ? Certain amounts are spent on national team, conducting tournaments, assisting district associations and clubs etc., but has monies been used in a proper manner for the development of the sport ? There was a grand ceremony in 2000 at the BMICH targetting the development of soccer in the schools where VIPs etc were present and five balls per school were distributed. The total cost of this event was Rs. 24,84,000/-, but since then, has the schools profited in any way from the FFSL? FIFA chief Sepp Blatter visited Sri Lanka in 2000 for just three days. Do you know that the FFSL spent over Rs. 83 lakhs on his visit ? The "Football Show" telecast on national television costs Rs. 16 lakhs. Then Rs. 124 lakhs was spent in the last three years for tournaments and Rs. 348 lakhs in the last four years on the administration of the FFSL. With all these monies been spent by the FFSL, has there been an improvement in our standards ? Sri Lanka are ranked 30th in Asia, and has never won the SAF title which has been won by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and even the Maldive Islands. The Ferreiras from Brazil were brought down to Sri Lanka in 1993 and were paid US Dollars 5000/- a month. Of course it was for both and paid for by the AFC. They are no longer with the FFSL, but Marces the son of Georgie, has been signed on as the coach of a club in Kalutara. Rugby's big mess The fate of the Caltex Clifford Cup tournament will now only be known on September 13 with the District Judge of Colombo putting off further hearing about CR & FC's suspension from the tournament. I understand that certain clubs have indicated that they are not willing to play as they are unable to find finances for their overseas recruits to be kept back for a longer duration. The tournament was scheduled for August 13. On rugby, a Fijian player on contract with a leading club in Colombo was released on bail and further hearing put off for December. He has been accused of raping a British tourist woman at a hotel down South. The woman suffered two cracked ribs and bruises on her body. Another Fijian player vanished from the country the same night after assaulting a referee during a league game when the Police were about to arrest him. It's high time that the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) screens these overseas recruits before the clubs sign them on. This type of behaviour should not be tolerated anymore as it brings disrepute to the game. Shocking statement The President of the NOC, Hemasiri Fernando, has gone on record making a shocking statement in Athens at the Olympic Games saying that Susanthika Jayasinghe's bronze medal winning run at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 was an "accident" and that Sri Lanka will not be able to win a medal at the Olympics for the next 10 years. What a statement for the NOC chief to make. Suspension on the way The Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) is to take disciplinary action against certain players who have made damaging allegations in a press interview which were false and misleading. I understand that even the IBF (the world controlling body) has complained about one of those players to the SLBA. These players may face a suspension soon. |
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