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By Bernard Perera

"The 17th World Cup Soccer Championship is due to commence in Japan and South Korea on May 31, but Lankan soccer fans are in a quandary,," said Manilal Fernando speaking at the launch of the book titled Jagath Paapandu Surathawa (World Cup Soccer).

He said this because the electronic media has yet to decide whether a live telecast is possible by our channels.

The reason being the high costs. The World Cup was announced long time ago, but the authorities have failed to make arrangements in time. They have waited till the last minute. These delays have caused many problems in finding sponsors for same.

If planning was conducted effectively this would not have been a problem. Now it is estimated that around 75,000 dollars are required to telecast the games from the quarter-final stage, for which he said that arrangements are in the offing.

Speaking further on his subject he told the gathering that this championship is watched by nearly two thirds of the world population.

In certain countries this telecast has become a must.

It has become such a valuable and an attractive part of the people, he said.

He requested the Media Ministry and the Sports Ministry to look for the possibilities to provide the people of Sri Lanka the opportunity of viewing the mega event staged in Asia with the participation of 32 countries.

This could be of vital importance for the game of soccer in Sri Lanka.

Speaking further he said that soccer fans in Sri Lanka was given the chance to read about the game with this book written by veteran journalist Asoka Gunathilleke.

He thanked the author for taking great pains in compiling a book for the benefit of the sports. He requested the author not to put a full stop to his writing, but to continue the work to give the readership a full scale biography of the Lanka soccer and to part with the knowledge of soccer to young soccerites in Sri Lanka. This will help the governing body in a great way.

Refereeing is an another aspect of the sport. He has all the experience to write on this too. I am willing to assist him in every respect and FFSL premises is open to him for any assistance, he said.

Manilal also said that his dream is to have a ground for the FFSL. "I have been negotiating over this for long with authorities concerned and now I feel that these are bearing fruit", said Manilal. "I hope to convert FFSL into a institute of its own without looking for financial assistance from the state.

Milton Amerasinghe (Director Sports Ministry, Development) speaking said it is a great moment to see a book written in Sinhala about soccer come to limelight at a crucial time.

"Sri Lankan soccer has developed steadily," he said. This was mainly due to private sector sponsorship during the past few decades.

But there was a setback when the government had to put a ban on sponsors dealing with alcohol and tobacco.

The Government compensated by providing Rs. 50 million last year. He admitted that this sum was not sufficient but the FFSL has overcome these problems with managerial capabilities.

As a ministerial official I see the Football Federation as the best managed sports governing body. Most of the local sports governing bodies are crisis ridden. This I say was mainly due to having power hunger. These have caused many problems to these bodies where they have to spend more time on judicial and other matters. The officials are unable to attend to work connected with sports development", he said.

Up and coming sportsmen are the ones who suffer because of this, he said. This must be stopped at all cost if we are to improve our standards in sports.

Continuing he said Football Federation works to a plan, this was proved last year when the Federation commenced a programme for young ones from school level in view to the future.

This is a good foundation laid for a better future, which has attracted over 500 schools inclusive of North East regions, he said.

P. D. Sirisena, Director FFSL Development also spoke. The other special invitees present on the occasion were Gamini Randeni (President FFSL), J. S. N. Anandarajah (Vice President FFSL) and Upali Tennekoon (Chief Editor Divaina). 

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