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by DINESH WEERAWANSA

Sri Lanka coach Tony Amit said his team is mentally prepared to put aside their Asian Games debacle and do well at the 2002 Rugby Asiad which starts in Thailand next week. In an exclusive interview with the 'Daily News' shortly before Sri Lanka team's departure to Bangkok last night, Amit said Amit said his 26-member tour squad is determined to make a come back and do well at the Asiad.

A man with a proven track record, Amit said he would never put undue pressure on his team. "I don't want to out unbearable pressure on the boys saying that they must win any how. All what I have told the boys to do their very best, play heart out with pride. Then everything you deserve would come your way," he said as the Sri Lanka team were ready to leave for the Thai capital for the Asian rugby extravaganza which starts next Monday.

He said the new national poolists are 'very committed'. "They know they have something to prove. Hence the boys are very committed. Their hearts are big.

They want to give out something special for their country. There are several security forces players and they have a true feeling for their country and some of them are playing for the first time," the Australian qualified Lankan national coach said.

However, Amit ahmitted that his team has a big task ahead to get rid of the bitter experience at last month's Asian Games and regain their form. "We have a demoralised rugby fraternity. But we have a committed lot for the Asiad and they are eager to make use of the chance they got. They have the ability to be determined and courageous and play the game in true spirit," he said.

Sri Lanka will be take on Kazakhstan in the first game on November 16, followed by the next two games against Thailand on November 18 and India on November 20. They will be looking forward to their three quarters to deliver the goods in the crucial game against Kazakhstan. "We would depend more on the threes in the game against Kazakhstan. The back will have to do a lot of running there. But we would just take on Thailand. The Thais are not used to big hits and I guess our forwards will have a major role to play in the second game against the hosts," he continued.

Amit said Sri Lanka should have a slight advantage over the Thailand pack.

But the Lankan coach said he is not aware of the strength on the Indian team, which are the minnows of Asian rugby. "But we are not going to take the things lightly and play every game with pride," he said. According to Amit, the Lankan ruggerites have completed a rigorous programme as lead up to the Asiad.

Asked whether the absence of nine regulars would be felt at the Asiad, Amit seemed to be not too much worried about the recent developments which forced some of the regular players to pull out for the reasons better known to them while the others were forced to skip the Asiad due to injuries. "I would only miss Sajith Mallikarachchi and Pavithra Fernando. Especially Mallikarachchi's presence would be felt in the game against Kazakhstan. Fernando too is a talented player. The are hard players with tough mentality," he said.

Amit noted training the national poolists get at club level is inadequate and hence, they do not know what to do when they are under pressure. "Play with pride" was Amit's simple message to the team.

Sri Lanka team, captained by CR's Asanga Rodrigo and managed by Brian Baptist, left for Bangkok in the early hours of today and are expected to get into immediate training this evening.

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