Manilal a hero of our time

When Manilal Fernando completed the historic 'Football House', he quite rightly and proudly hung a photograph of himself sporting that million dollar smile at the entrance and below it read the blurb - I lived my dream.

Now with the completion of the Vernon Fernando Sports Complex in Kalutara, in his home town, the Redeveloped City Football League Ground and the Sports Complex in Mannar, Fernando's slogan is - 'I continue to dream'.

The irrepressible Fernando has the knack of making dreams come true.

He does not believe in talk. While he talks little, he makes others talk of his work. And his work for the game of football, which is known as the poor man's game in Sri Lanka has been phenomenal. Fernando has done wonders for the administration, the players and the game, never before attempted or achieved by his predecessors and with more to follow, he can be termed a hero of our time.

Fernando has lined up for more sports complexes in the country and his ultimate dream is to make the country's football a powerhouse in Asia. He has laid out plans to achieve this dream. What he regrets is that the players of natural ability - like Peter Ranasinghe, Mahinda Aluvihare, P.D. Sirisena, Zainulabdeen, Edward Wickremasuriya, M. A. Ameer, Hashimdeen, Asia's best goalkeeper of that time and his brother Subani, Lionel Pieris, Piyadasa Perera, K.D. Somapala, Andrew Fernando, Karunapala Fernando, E.N. Nicholas, Azeez and Denzil Walles, Judy Preena, Nizam Hajireen, Aflred Dias and Anura de Silva to name a few, are not emerging. The above mentioned were naturals and they were equal and even better than the best known in Asia at that time. How Fernando must be yearning for players of that calibre. Fernando is a glutton for work. FIFA Big Boss Sepp Blatter in recognition of his honesty and unflagging zest for hard work for the game had no hesitation in shooting him into the Legal Committee of the world governing body. Fernando is now a Senior Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation and it is hoped that soon he will attain the high office of President of AFC.

Being in the Legal Committee of FIFA and SVP of AFC are two high and prestigious posts never ever achieved by an official of the then Ceylon Football Association or the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. All Sri Lanka should be proud of Fernando's achievement and urge him to attain more. .

Sports loving President Mahinda Rajapaksa who graced the occasion as chief guest and opened the impressive Vernon Fernando Sports Complex, complimented and paid a glowing tribute to Fernando for his hard work in seeing to the completion of the three sports complexes and requested him to keep moving.

Fernando who spent his personal funds to kick off the sports complex in memory of his late father, used his persuasive powers to convince FIFA, AFC and Basel FC from Switzerland to contribute lavishly to see to the completion of these complexes.

Fernando who did a tour of the areas and sports grounds devastated by the ruthless tsunami, immediately contacted his friends at the AFC and FIFA Mohammad Bin Hammam and Sepp Blatter and they immediately came to his aid and the monies that they have contributed have been well used and accounted for by Fernando and his officials at the FFSL. Fernando is ever grateful to them and has only to ask.

At one time there were hardly any venues for football to be played because the Government Services Ground at Parsons and the Army Ground at Echelon Square were taken over for the building of hotels. How he yearns for the football ground at the former Race Course to be handed over to the Federation.

When everything seemed lost, Fernando who revels in a challenge took it upon himself to find venues so that the poor man's game would survive and these sports complexes stand sentinel and now serve in the promotion and development of the game.

Fernando as usual has his frustrated critics. He has no time to waste on them. 'Dogs will bark, but the caravan rolls on', he says with a twinkle in his eye. Football will always remember Fernando for his magical deeds.

Today other national associations need men of the calibre of Manilal Vernon Fernando who can not only talk, but above all deliver. He is a man for all seasons.

When Fernando took over the reins of President of the Football Federation in 1979 a breath of fresh air blew across the soccer scene. And with his election came the good things and times of plenty for the game, the player and the administration. And today these aspects are well served.

It is said that a friend in need is a friend indeed and here are a few quotes from Fernando's dear friend and President of the AFC Mohammad Bin Hammam - A dearth of basic football amenities is bound to be reflected directly in the performance of a team on the pitch. I believe that if the facilities are not decent, then it is unfair to demand world-class performances from players.

'Having said that, I will be the first one to admit that infrastructure building takes a lot of investment, time and efforts. 'Considering these ground realities, I am delighted to see the progress made by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and want to personally congratulate AFC Vice President Manilal Fernando, who is enthusiastically leading by example the movement of football development in South Asia.'There could be no greater proof of my colleague Fernando's passion for the game than the fact that he used his own funds to complete the initial phase of the Kalutara Football Complex'.

It is said that a prophet is not without honour other than in his own country. And this is true of Manilal Vernon Fernando who has the ball at his feet and he is determined to dribble past all obstacles and score more for the game. He can count on us for support.