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by Bernard Perera

The 30th Asian Schools Soccer Championships which concluded recently in Singapore became a bitter one for Lankan Junior soccerites. They lost all four games in the preliminary round against Malaysia, host Singapore, India and Thailand playing in Group 'B'. In Group 'A' - South Korea, China, Vietnam, Brunei and Indonesia battled for supremacy.

Lankans suffered their first game to Malaysia. This game got off to fine start with Lankans dominating for only 15 minutes.

The first goal from opponents put back the Lankans back to the defence and this never saw them take to the attack. This failure resulted badly when Malaysians added more goals to their tally scoring as many as four goals in the first session.

The question that arose at this stage was why were the players go on the defence. Are they been asked to do so by the officials concerned or the players' way of playing. This sort of game will not help the individual player or the team at large. This has to remedied immediately if we are to achieve success.

The second and third games too produced the same pattern of play and the result too was the same as the first game beaten badly again. Do we play only to lose? No should be the answer. Then what are we to do to rectify this situation has to be looked into.

The final preliminary game in Group B for Sri Lanka was against the second favourites to win the championship Thailand. They became more fancied after they drubbed India 11-0, which prove that they are the strongest in Group 'B', Lankans faced them as underdogs. Thai's hoped to smash Lankans to the tune of 10-15 goals. But Lankan lads took seriously in this game to put more pressure on the opponent. This new pattern of play produce results when Thais failed to score for 23 minutes. Again they fell back giving more room for opponents to score four more goals to go for lemons at 6-0 lead with an additional goal by way of an own goal. Anyone watching this game will not blame the goalie. The Lankan custodian needs a commendation specially for the concentration he had during the melees that took place inside the box to save many goals. These unwanted struggles inside the box put more pressure on the goalkeeper. He also became the only goal keeper to save a penalty during the championship which showed his capabilities.

The defenders did a splendid job but the midfielders and the strikers were never seen to receive the ball that were put over. Once the ball goes over the line it was the opponents that took the ball bring back to Lankan territory. This proved the lack of combination among player of different positions.

The best football from the young Sri Lankans came only in the second half of this game where they really went ahead. this tactic kept Thais at bay and could manage only two goals, while Lankans scored the solitary goal through a penalty.

Crowding in the goal area prevented many offside blowing by referees. If these were minimised Lankans would not have got a beating of this nature.

Young Lankan soccerites need more international exposure if they are to face the future in soccer. Just getting beaten does not mean that they should not be given tours. Looking at the fitness of these youngsters no one could make a comment. But many things need careful consideration to mould them to be a fine outfit. It was known that the selections were done by a qualified selector along with a schools soccer official. These players were taken according to suitable positions of play but were they employed accordingly. They have undergone training for 40 days. If this was the case were not given the finer points of the game. This is a must when going out to face international opposition.

The officials must take special emphasis on the games they face one by one. They must also encourage players during play according to its situation. This was never seen during this season.

Sri Lanka Schools Football Association which is at its low levels should raise its standards more efficiently if they are to improve the level of soccer at school level. They must closely liaise with Football Federation which take great pains in promoting the sports from grass roots level and financially too.

It also should make sure that the coach involved in making selections should handle them carefully until they reach the top and also accompany them on tours of this nature. It is not fair to hand them over to a coach for a few days before a tour, which will never bring in good results.

This method also helpful in giving a young coach to study new pattern of play from other playing nations as they are the future soccerites whom we have face when it come to international. This method also is of vital importance to coaches learn methods and induce them among young one's for the betterment of the game.

FFSL deserves a bouquet for assisting the Schools Football Association financially in making tours abroad. It is high time that both parties sit together to rectify matters for the promotion of the sports in Sri Lanka.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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