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by Bernard Perera

"Assess your status before commencing development," said Dato Paul Mody Samuel, Development Officer, FIFA, delivering the keynote address at the workshop conducted for soccer coaches and administrators at Football House last week. This workshop was attended by all coaches and administrators attached to the Football Federation of Sri Lanka.

Samuel speaking on this occasion added that development needs a lot of dedication. There are various areas that development officers have to look at. Initially, they should identify what status they stand at present before embanking on development. Without identifying your position you cannot achieve your success in development work."

"Manilal Fernando, Vice President of Asian Football Federation and former President FFSL is keen to bring Lankan soccer into the top rung in Asia. This is a good vision," he said. "I alone cannot achieve this, I need all the assistance from FFSL officials and coaches of this country to gather around with dedication. That is why this sort of workshops are held to give the know-how to people involved in the development programmes," he said.

"The officials who attend these workshop should also take it seriously to absorb whatever is needed for them to improve the standard of soccer.

"The governing body of the sport get grants from world body as well as the Asian Region for this purpose. These finances should be utilised in a proper manner. It should not be used for a target only."

"Though a target is a must, all monies should not be spent on this. Why I say this is after achieving this target what next, is the question. This achievement has to be continued, that is why a development programme for the future becomes a necessity," he said.

"Sri Lankan soccer has the basics at school level from here they have to reach the advanced level before reaching the top level which is crucial. They reach the advanced level when it comes to club level. But this is not continued due to many reasons.""First is being non-professionalism at club level. This has to be remedied by the governing body and the other authorities. If this could be sorted out a lot can be done."

"Coaches and Administrators too have a vital role to play on their part. They should reach a high level of education on subjects of coaching, sports medicine, administration and development work. If they do not reach this standard the finances spent on development programmes may not bring in results," he said.

Adding further on projects conducted by FIFA to develop the game, he said these programmes commenced way back as 1965. But these did not produce expected results. Former FIFA bosses Stanley Ramon and Joe Havelanche were very keen on these projects." There were three programmes conducted in 1965, '72 and '73.

Joe Havelanche who took over the presidency of FIFA visited many developing countries with a view of personally assessing the progress. Later decided to set up a academy to guide the officials on Administration, Coaching, Sports Medicine and Development. This became a success to a certain extent. All these were done with assistance from Finance Assistance Program (FAP) of FIFA.

This FAP projects continued till 1995 and a new project named 'Goal Project' was joined together to further assist developing notions, he said. This joining has at present produced good results."

The project was a concept of Joseph Blatter the FIFA boss who wanted the governing bodies of countries to plan things on their own, which after scrutinising gets the ok and the finances for the project. These have to be done under the watchful eyes of the FIFA," he said.

Samuel said, "the Lankans have got the best opportunity through hard work done by former FFSL President Manilal Fernando.

This has to be used in the proper manner by all who attend this workshop, which would help your country achieve the future target as well as the continuation of the game."

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