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| Wednesday, 17 September 2003 |
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Sports | |
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Appreciation : J.S.N. Anandaraja... a pal so good and true The death occurred of J.S.N. Anandaraja after a brief illness bravely borne. 'Ana' as he was fondly and popularly called, was no mean footballer. But he was a football promoter par excellence. Taking to the game and its administration like a duck to water, 'Ana' left no stone unturned to see to its development and success. After a short stint with the Steel Corporation, he turned to business and full time to soccer and its administration and at the time of his death was the Senior Vice President of the Football Federation. He was a much sought after match Commissioner in the Asian Soccer scene. Earlier he held every top post in the FFSL and crowned his distinguished career in its administration by being its President. He served the game and its administration with honesty and dedication for well over 30 years. I had the good fortune of getting to know 'Ana' in the seventies and from that time on our friendship blossomed and he was my mentor, guide, philosopher and dear friend. With his demise a light has gone out of my life. He was a friend indeed and no one who came to know him had unkind words for him. Ana was a great benefactor for all religions and religious. Very God fearing he would always instil in me that nothing could be achieved without believing in God. He did not bear grudges, not did he believe in doing harm, even to his deadliest enemy. When Anandaraja was ailing, a critic who seemed to have lost all values took him to task and belittled him for going to the airport to welcome a visiting soccer delegation. It hurt him. But he had nothing but forgiveness for this heartless critic. 'Ana' was in the swim of things to realise that the player, the game and the administration was going to ruin. It was then that he teamed up with the irrepressible Manilal Fernando and took up the challenge head on to revive it and lead it to the good times it is enjoying today. 'Ana' was rightly convinced that in Fernando he had the Messiah for the game. And Fernando has justified the confidence and performed beyond expectations. This is how Manilal summed up Anandaraja - 'He was a very true, dedicated, loyal and honest soul. His advice was from the heart, well thought out and said with all honesty. I put him in charge of many development projects and he served with dedication to the best of his ability. His honesty brought him not enemies, but the green eyed. That is a common trait among our people. But I never found him wanting. He was a friend in a million. His void would not be easy to fill,' lamented Fernando, with his wife Manouri agreeing. Having been very close to Fernando and Anandaraja, I could say that they were like conjoined twins when it came to the game. 'Ana' had much more to offer to the game, when the cruel hand of death struck him at the age of 59. With his demise the game has lost a tower of strength. It is heartening and satisfying to know that Manilal Fernando has promised to continue the good work initiated by his close friend. In the words of that perennial - Ana was a pal so good and true. I must thank God for giving me friends such as Anandaraja. To Padmini his wife he was a dutiful and caring husband. To his sons Ramkumar and Ravikumar he was an example. To those who came to know him, he was inspiration. Goodbye and farewell my true friend till we meet on that beautiful shore. - Dr. Elmo Rodrigopulle |
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