Caltex assured that League and Clifford Cup rugby tourneys will be
played
By Jatila KARAWITA
 |
Kishu Gomes - CEO and
MD of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PlC. |
RUGBY: Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Chevron
Lubricants Lanka PLC, chief sponsor of Caltex League and Clifford Cup
Knock-Out Rugby Tournaments for the past eight years. Kishu Gomes says
that his company has been given a firm assurance that the two major
domestic rugby tournaments will be conducted smoothly in the forthcoming
season by the Competent Authority of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union
(SLRFU) - Dr. Maiya Gunasekera in light of the recent turmoil at the
union headquarters.
"Dr. Maiya Gunasekera and Kiran Atapattu have spoken to us", he told
Sunday Observer.
"They gave their assurance and guarantee to conduct the two main
inter-club rugby tournaments sans a hitch. That is what we wanted from
them for an assurance that rugby should not be made to suffer due to the
ineptness some administrators said Gomes who has been the livewire in
forging a successful sponsorship deal between his company, a local
lubricant giant and the game's local controlling body.
"Lately, there has been much uncertainty regarding the tournaments.
Even as a rugby fan, I too, wondered where the game was heading with one
controversy taking precedence over another", add Gomes. He said what is
important is that none of the rugby stakeholders should have any doubts
regarding how the game is administered. The stakeholders consists of the
players, administrators, sponsors, media and last, but not least the
spectators."
Caltex boss Gomes, an avid follower of the game both here and aborad,
noted that whoever is appointed to govern the sport will need to win
back the confidence of all clubs, if the game is to avoid hitting rough
waters.
He revealed that in the not too distant past, rugby has had to
weather numerous storms mainly due to various officials pulling in
different directions and working to different agendas with rugby not
getting the top priority.
However, the Chevron Lubricants Lanka Limited, CEO cum MD expressed
his satisfaction at a committee selected by Dr. Maiya Gunasekera
comprising of ex-national caps to look into the aspects of marketing and
sponsorship.
Former Sri Lanka rugby stars, retired DIG Daya Jayasundera, Ajith
Abeyratne, former Air Force Group Captain Nalin de Silva, Rohan
Guneratne, Priyantha Ekanayake, Michael Jayasekera, Hisham Adeen, Saman
Jayasinghe, Asoka Jayasena, Imthisham Marikkar and Lasitha Guneratne are
to form that committee.
Close tab
Kishu Gomes, stressed that his company will be keeping a close tab on
the developments at the SLRFU headquarters, following the recent removal
from office of its Council by the Minister of Sports Gamini Lokuge.
Minister Lokuge's decision to dissolve the SLRFU Council came about in
the wake of the resignation of its President Senior DIG Nimal Lewke and
its Secretary SP Duke Hamid.
Senior DIG Lewke resigned precisely a month before his two-year
tenure was to expire on February 21 while Hamid threw in the towel's
couple of days earlier following press allegations that he was not
suited to hold office in keeping with the constitution of the SLRFU.
Minister Gamini Lokuge had earlier appointed ex-IGP Indra de Silva
and former Brigadier C. Thurairjah to look into a complaint lodged by
Notional Sports Council member and former Sri Lanka `lock forward'
Lasitha Guneratne that the SLRFU Council comprised of officials who have
got elected through the back door or in other words directly violating
the constitution of the Rugby Union which states that officials holding
portfolios of the Council must have either played representative rugby
or `A' division domestic rugby in order to fit the bill.
Gomes lastly added that Chevron Lubricants Lanka, will be keeping
their fingers crossed in the context of rugby being at cross roads in
this country, but confirmed that his firm will not pull out on its
responsibility, but will remain as the SLRFU's flagship sponsor of
league and Clifford Cup Tournaments till its 10-year sponsorship runs
out next year.
Dr. Maiya Gunasekera had earlier given a firm commitment to the rugby
fraternity that he will look to `iron out' any discrepancies or
loopholes in the existing voting system of the SLRFU and take all
possible measures to hold its eagerly awaited AGM before March 31.
Earlier the 2009 SLRFU AGM was scheduled to be held on February 21. The
2009 inter-club rugby season is expected to kick-off on February 7 and 8
with the first-leg of Club Sevens at Nittawela while the second-leg is
to be worked off on February 28 and March 1 at Longden Place. |