Stubborn attitude of Kandy SC players will open 'door' for others to play- Coach Snyman

By Jatila KARAWITA

RUGBY: Sri Lanka rugby coach Dawie Snyman says if the 13 Kandy SC players who withdrew from national pool training are not willing to return, it will provide an opportunity for deserving youngsters to stake a claim for international honours when Sri Lanka embark on their tour of Chinese Taipei next month.

"You always want to measure yourself against the best," he told 'Sunday Observer' .

"If those players are not keen on representing the country, then it will pave the way for the others to grab that opportunity and cement a place in the national team," he added.

Thirteen Kandy SC players have withdrawn from national pool training, citing, personal reasons after the recent appointment of CR & FC 'number eight' Dushanth Lewke as captain of the Sri Lanka team ahead of the inaugural Asian Five National Division 1 Tournament in Chinese Taipei from Nov. 12-19.

Snyman who is from South Africa said that it was imperative that whoever the player is, the interests of the country should be put first ahead of personal issues and Sri Lanka was no exception to it.

No player bigger than rugby

He however said that the set of players from Kandy SC were formidable in their respective positions, but, emphasised that no player was bigger than rugby. "From my experience as a rugby coach, I have never come across a situation as this," a surprised Sri Lanka rugby coach commented when asked for his views on the on-going local rugby furore over the selection of Dushanth Lewke as captain.

"Always it is a case of one's national side getting priority over any other matter. "But, here it is different, looking at the unfolding events on the rugby front.

All I can say is that if the individuals are not interested in playing for the country, then it is up to the others to grab the chance and show the public that they, too, can replace the more established stars," Snyman said.

Snyman was also pleased with the inclusion of several deserving schoolboy rugby players into the preliminary pool, currently under training with compatriot Norman Laker also assisting him on the coaching front. Twelve promising schoolboy players have been drafted into the national pool by the selectors headed by retired Brigadier Jupana Jawardene.

They are: Bilal Hassen (Royal), Idris Omar, Milinda Gunawardene, Mohammed Ruzni and Adid Hameed (Trinity), Ishan Noor, Harsha Weerakkody and Gerald Canute (St. Peter's), Sajith Saranga and Dinusha Chathuranga (Isipathana), Roshan Weerarathne (Kingswood) and Chanaka Pieters (St. Joseph's).

He also expressed his satisfaction at the attendance of the rest of the pool players and noted that what matters from hereon was to get on with the job.

"It is all about gaining experience when playing abroad, and this tourney will give players that opportunity," coach Snyman added. Asked for his comments on the selection of Dushanth Lewke as captain of the team, the South African spoke highly of the ability of the former Royal and current CR number "eight" and quipped that Lewke is able to lead from the front and that was what mattered most.

Lewke good leader

"The captain issue has turned out to be a very sensitive subject", he remarked and added: "From my personal view, Lewke is able to get the others to do what he wants.

He is also quite good at training and gives it his best shot.

I am pleased to see that he has got on well not only with his teammates, but with us as well," coach Snyman said of himself and his partner Laker.

Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Radghika Hettiarachchi, Fazil Marija, Pradeep Liyanage, Saliya Kumara, Gayan Weerarathne, Imran Bisthamin, Sameera Silva, Sean Wijesinghe, Jeewa Galgamuwa, Sumedha Jayasinghe, Safeer Jahan and Anuranga Walpola are the players who have opted out of the team.

It all started with the withdrawal of crack winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who decided to voluntarily 'walk-out' of team training after Dushanth Lewke was picked as the new captain of the rugby team for the tournament in Taiwan, saying an injustice had been meted out to him and a few others by overlooking them and opting for Lewke to captain the team in a crucial tournament as the Inaugural Asian Five Nations Division 1.