Officials and players must work together to improve game
Pavilion view by Leslie Fernando
BASKETBALL: The standard of basketball is at low level.
Scientifically, technically and strategically the game has dropped due
to lack of knowledgeable coaches said Francis de Almeida the founder of
the Basketball Coaches Association and former NOC member. He also helped
to start Sports Medicine Association.
Another factor for the downward trend of basketball due to faulty
administration. If the officials and former players can re-group and
share assignments properly the game will definitely reach greater
heights as in the good old days, said Francis who started his basketball
career at the Borella Seminary. He played for Mercantile Services too.
A reputed coach, Francis was also one-time Secretary Sri Lanka
Basketball Federation. He said that there were top administrators like
O. K. Hemachandra - Director CID, Major General Paranagama, Air
Vice-Marshal, A. B. Soza who worked in honourary capacity for the good
of the game.
There was also the two Rev. Fathers Webber and Eugene Herbert who
were engaged in forming St. Michael's BC., Batticaloa the school which
has produced several national players. St. Michael's also has won the
national title.
Francis remembers Sri Lanka's 1984 performances at the Asian Youth
Championships in Korea. Sri Lanka were sixth. It was the highest place
Sri Lanka has obtained.
Sri Lanka had top players like Percy Perera, selected as the Best
Shooter of Asia, Cosmos, Malsiri, Roydon de Silva, Rienzie, Daluwatta,
Thurairaja, Duncan and Elmo Jayawardena, Theja Cooray, Nihal, Kamala,
Ann to name a few who excelled in this sport for the country.
'Practice makes perfect'
Sheer practice and accurate shooting brought me success in
basketball. To improve in any sport or to reach a good standard, the
players should train well, in addition to the skill that the players
possess, said Dr. Chelliah Thurairaja - the former Royal, University of
Colombo and Sri Lanka Army. Besides basketball, Thurairaja has excelled
in rugby, badminton, golf and cricket too. He was a Major General in the
Army at the time of retirement.
Dr. Thurairaja said that in 1954, Royal College won the Basketball
National Championships - first school to win a national title. "My
success was due to many sacrifices made and on hard training. I aimed at
a goal and I was very successful. We were very fortunate to come under
Rev. Cook - an American coach who has represented the USA at World
Championships. We played lot of basketball with the American Embassy
Peace Corps team and gained lot of knowledge and skill in the game,
Thurai said.
Thurai had the honour of captaining the national team and also
playing at the Asian Games. The players, besides training should also
strengthen the physical training side, do road running which is also
important.
Bad administration
The players who aspire to become good 'cagers' should put in lot of
individual practice. Furthermore they should be able to master every
department of the game _ ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting
said Sam Lovell, a former St. Joseph's College, Ottar AC and National
basketball player. He was also a reputed soccerite (goal-keeper) and a
fine athlete _ a hurdler and a high jumper.
During our playing days we used to practise five against five,
adopting fast breaks. We also privately practised shooting and re-bounds
in the home garden.
I owe my success to Nareen Jilla of Port Cargo Corporation and Ram
Sunderalingam of Old Bens who was national coach who really moulded me
to be a good player. In the late 1950s St. Joseph's had a 'crack' side
in Anton Selvadurai, Valarian Fernando, Leonard Rupasinghe, Chrishantha
Rodrigo, Lou Manthri and myself. Joes became National champions in 1957.
I had the opportunity to play against Iran, India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh and performed well due to hard work", Sam Lovell said.
The standard of basketball was at a high level those days. But it has
'died' a natural death due to poor and bad administration. "My opinion
is that the administrators should hold many coaching camps, seminars,
clinics regularly to keep the players in the game", Lovell quipped.
Boys helped to improve
Playing with the boys at Depot Police made me improve my game in the
sixties. So said Kusuma Gunasekera (Nee Gamwasam) who turned out to be
good basketball player.
I gathered speed, mastered the art of rebounds and putting them to
good use, Kusuma said. She was former Presbyterian Girls School, Stadium
Sports Club and Municipality sportswoman.
Kusuma who has represented the country in basketball, said that those
days there were more tournaments and the participation of teams and
interest was high compared to now. There are only few tournaments these
days. The administrators take no interest to promote this game at the
highest - that's level why the standard of basketball has dropped.
In the good old days there was Malcom Andree, late B. A. Jayasinghe
(former Municipal Commissioner) and late Mrs. Kusuma George to support
and Guide the players.
Kusuma who also excelled in hockey, volleyball and table tennis for
Colombo Municipality said that they never had any coaching camps,
seminars, clinics arranged. But it was the determination, dedication,
hard training, of the player who followed the coaches schedules and
maintained physical fitness that not only made her to become a good
sportswoman, but helped the others as well.
More tourneys necessary
Great enthusiasm and keen interest shown by late K. Nagalingam,
President of Western Province Basketball Federation, we had the chance
of playing with several State teams from India and gain lot of exposure
during the days we used to play basketball - he said Kamala Kulatilleke,
nee de Silva.
Nagalingam regularly invited teams from India at his own expense and
he was one of the pioneers in the promotion of basketball in Sri Lanka.
Playing with Indian teams, the standard of basketball rose to good
heights.
Kamala captained Sri Lanka team in 1978 at the 7th Asain Basketball
Championships held in Malaysia.
The standard of basketball has gone down. Present day players lack
responsibility and skill. Her opinion is that to improve the game,
players should show more dedication and devotion to develop one's basic
skills.
Kamala who has represented her shcool - Presbyteriorn girls school,
Ramblers, CMC Stadium SC in basketball and netball said that the
administrators, must make every effort to form development pools with 'cagers'
from schools. More tournaments should be organised amongst the schools
and that's a way to find hidden talent.
During the past there were tournaments held regularly and the
participation was also high and with more players, the game forced
ahead.
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