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| Sunday, 12 June 2005 |
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Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Straight talk by Lal Gunesekera Big names involved, so a possible'cover-up' to cheating case in cricket It's an "open and shut" case - a clear case of cheating. I am referring to the case of Kelum Gangodawila, who represented Nawaloka against Seylan Bank in the Mercantile 'B' Division cricket final last month (May) which was won by the former. He was accused by Seylan Bank for being in the payroll of Cricket-Aid-one person employed at two different establishments. Funny isn't it? Gangodawila yet draws his salary from Cricket-Aid. Both Nawaloka and Cricket-Aid submitted documents (salary particulars, cheques, EPF payments etc) to the Tournament Committee of the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) headed by Ishak Sahabdeen who held an inquiry. But what happened? Documents submitted by Cricket-Aid's Hashan Tillekeratne (Executive Director, and a former Sri Lanka captain), that proved Gangodawila was employed by Cricket-Aid were returned stating that they (the documents) were not called for by the Tournament Committee. I understand that the Disciplinary Committee headed by Ramesh Schafter of Janashakthi fame, which also includes Neil Perera (a Vice-President of MCA), Chris Obeyesekera (a former President of MCA attached to HNB), Kumar Weerasuriya (NDB Bank, who is the Treasurer of the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket) are delaying the entire issue and have yet to take a decision. Why? To me the reasons seems to be quite clear. Who heads the Interim Committee? It's none other than Jayantha Dharmadasa of Nawaloka fame, and who are some of its members? One is Kumar Weerasuriya its Treasurer, another Triphone Mirando of Janashakthi who is the Secretary, while another is Adel Hashim, the President of MCA. Now, do you get it? It certainly looks like a cover up, otherwise, why so long to take a decision. The Tournament Committee of the MCA found that the dates registration of the team that was sent by Nawaloka prior to the commencement of the tournament and the dates given by Nawaloka at the inquiry "did not tally". How come? At that stage, the Tournament Committee should have suspended Nawaloka - they had the evidence, instead of sending their "findings" to the Disciplinary Committee. Something smells does it not? I also understand that Nawaloka has threatened Seylan Bank that unless their complaint to the MCA is withdrawn, all accounts of Nawaloka with Seylan Bank will be withdrawn. What has cricket come to in this country? Minister's sensible decision The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Jeewan Kumaratunga, has at last taken a sensible decision in turning down the quotation submitted by fellow actor Jackson Anthony through the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for a sum of Rs. 18 million for the opening ceremony (which is to be a cultural pageant) for the South Asian Games to be staged in Sri Lanka next April. The Minister has expressed his shock at the amount that was quoted and had wanted the cultural troupe of the Army or even the Police Reserve to perform at the ceremony at a much lesser cost. Well done Mr. Minister, the country just cannot afford such extravagance after the Boxing Day tsunami. The topic of conversation whenever I meet someone connected with sport is the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (SNSCA) and the increased rates they now charge from various controlling bodies for the last two to three months if they need to use its facilities (both indoor and outdoor). The reconstruction of the entire complex took place when the late Ranasinghe Premadasa was President in time for the 5th South Asian Games that was staged in Sri Lanka in 1991. He even gave away money from Stadium funds to many controlling bodies. No more now. There are 55 (I may be corrected) controlling bodies registered with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Most of them do not have sponsors and find it rather difficult to carry out their day-to-day activities. To add to this misery, the SNSCA, have increased their rates in leaps and bounds, which leaves these controlling bodies to find other avenues to conduct their affairs, training, tournaments etc. Apart from the 1991 SAF Games, there have been other international events that have taken place at this complex like Athletics, Soccer, Rugby, Netball, Boxing, Badminton etc. This has enabled sports enthusiasts of this country to witness top international sportsmen and women in action in their own country. What happens now? Sports bodies cannot afford to meet the increased rates and it's the sports that suffer as they have to hire out grounds, courts etc without facilities. What is the reason trotted out by the SNSCA? They give it as the high cost of maintenance and other being the increased electricity and water rates. True enough, but at what cost? Sports cannot suffer. The SNSCA is not meant to be a profit making venture, but one for the country's sportsmen and women to use to develop their skills. Mr. Minister, it's high time you step in and advise those in charge of the SNSCA to charge reasonable rates when their facilities are needed. Your intervention in this matter is of utmost importance. What qualifications What are the qualifications needed for a person to be appointed as national coach? In my opinion, there seems to be none where Basketball is concerned. Ajith Kuruppu has been recommended by the Executive Committee of the Basketball Federation to be the national coach. Kuruppu also heads the Basketball Coaches Association. He was national coach earlier too, but cannot boast of being a result oriented coach. What about people like Jayantha Ranawana, Shantha Sirisuriya and T. H. Ahamath to name a few of the result-oriented coaches and why were they not considered by the Coaches Association for nomination. It's all about the clout one possesses. What perks The President of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (SLAA) Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, and SLAA Secretary Prema Pinnawela, have already made the necessary preparations to attend the IAAF Congress to be held in Helsinki, Finland in August even before the competitors are selected for the 10th World Championship to be held in the same city. Both Minister Tennakoon and Pinnawela are to be accompanied by their respective spouses, for which the husbands are meeting the expenses. Two rooms have already been booked at the Holiday Inn of the Helsinki City Centre. A room with breakfast costs Euro 229 per day (Rs. 28,785). Sunil Jayaweera now a Vice-President (he is the immediate past President) has turned down the offer to go to Helsinki as he "cannot afford" to meet the expenses. I wonder how many delegates there will be from Sri Lanka to Helsinki in the end and how many will return? Also, I would like to pose another question to the SLAA. What has happened to the Rs. 4.5 million sent by the IAAF for tsunami relief work? Remember 1962 Friday's rugby match between CR & FC and Air Force, brought back nostalgic memories to me. In 1962, Air Force led by Ranjith Abeydeera thrashed CR led by Rodney Ingleton 21-0 at Katunayake. The Airmen came into the 'A' Division only the previous year (1961), but one year later they not only beat CR, but held the Havelocks (defending champions) to a 3-all draw and lost to CH comprising all Europeans 5-8. Those were the good old days. CR however, won the return 11-3 at Longden Place. Air Force were coached by former commander Air Vice Marshall Harry Goonatilleke and the team also included persons in the calibre of Jeff Ratnam, Khalid Brothers, Cramer brothers, Bunny Van Twest, Berty Ekanayake and Raj Rodriguez to name a few. When on Air Force rugby, I cannot but forget H. Maheswaran, one of their stalwarts during these years. He had many an achievement in coaching and refereeing in Dubai and Arabian Gulf and even managed the Dubai Exiles RFC too. His proud boast is that one of his trainee pupils from the Mini, under-13 and under-19 Colts camps represented Arabian Gulf at the Singer-SriLankan Airlines International 7's at Bogambara a few years back. He was Marcus Smith, who scored the first try on the first day itself and that too against Sri Lanka. Maheswaran was proud to see this on TV as he was recuperating from a stroke he suffered. He yet remembers with nostalgia the glamour days of Sri Lanka rugby in the 1960's, 1970's and even up to 1980's and is very disappointed about the deterioration of standards and the sorry state of administration. If anyone of his "old friends" or colleagues like to meet him, Maheswaran is at 416/1, Habarakada, Homagama. |
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