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| Thursday, 5 February 2004 |
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SLSRFA's unfair move nipped in the bud by Dinesh Weerawansa Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA)'s move to 'work on the blind side' was finally tackled and brought down by the top rugby playing schools. The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA)'s proposal to take the gate collections from the inter-school league matches has been flatly rejected by the leading rugby playing schools. The initial proposal of the SLSRFA was to take the entire gate collection to fill their coffers. Perhaps they would have thought the resistance from top schools would be unbearable, the SLSRFA later decided to pay 25% of the gate collection to the host school. But both proposals have been flatly rejected by member schools as the school rugby controlling body tried to make money out of nothing. At first glance, one may feel there are enough points for both the parties to feel that both of them are right and just. Firstly, the SLSRFA, in their defence, could point out that they are the supreme body to govern school rugby in the country and the member schools are obliged to follow what ever their ex-co passes. Secondly, the schools, mainly the top ones, which could attract thousands of rugby fans for their matches due to their fast, open rugby and traditions, would definitely feel why they should make a 'charity' out of what they (should) get as hosts. Before evaluating the points in fairness to both parties, it would be better to know what a controlling body is. Be it the national, schools, provincial or district governing body, it is the supreme body in that sport for its members. Further promoting and popularising the sport, conducting regular competitions amongst members, contributing for the elevation of the sport at all levels and most importantly helping the member clubs, schools or associations both financially and technically when such assistance is needed. The big question is to which extent the SLSRFA has done its obligations to its member schools. Until the late eighties, schools rugby was governed by a separate sub body (Schools Section) which was directly under the national governing body the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). But the schools rugby officials at that time perhaps wanted more liberty that they broke away from the parent body and formed a separate controlling body for schools rugby. The traditional inter-school rugby matches played every season were counted as so called league tournament matches and the SLSRFA introduced a points system to have a league tournament for schools. They neither had any control in finding fixtures for schools with lesser demand or controlling the traditional school fixtures. All what the schools rugby body did at the beginning was simply a desk job of calculating points and issuing a so called points table to media. At the same time, the schools had to find their own finances to survive in the game. While the affluent schools spent two to three million rupees per season, the lesser known rugby playing schools had to strive hard to be in the scrum. Thanks to the efforts of elite old boys, major rugby playing schools managed to meet high expenses needed to maintain their rugby pools. The gate collection they got from key games was a negligible portion compared to large sums they pumped to keep their 'pack' steady as an investment for the future. That too came in every other year as the matches were played on home and away basis annually and only the host school got the gate money. Even after the Under-19 league tournament was introduced by the SLSRFA, this practice remained while the schools rugby officials showed a blind eye on the needs of their member schools. Considering the crowds which attracted inter-school matches, which even surpassed some key inter-club games, the SLSRFA would have surely marked their product. In this case a thrilling series of rugby. They should have marketed their key tournament for sponsorship in such a way to meet the full money needed for their own survival, forget helping the poor schools altogether. The SLSRFA could not even do that. Instead of looking for better sponsorship deals to get much needed finances to promote the game at grassroots level, they lined out with their long- standing sponsor. And now, the SLSRFA has hurriedly taken the ball out of the scrum. Even the little gate the poor and lesser-known schools get is big money for them. In the mean time, in the defence of crowd pulling big names in school rugby, they richly deserve the money their supporters pay for dishing out some fast and open rugby. It is this money that the SLSRFA is eyeing, trying a late tackle A top official of the SLRFU said they even don't take a cent from the gate collection of 'A' division league matches, though the union provides referees, touch judges and officials. Even the Sri Lanka Cricket (ex BCCSL) pays a proportional sum for the clubs which play in their premier league tournament, apart from the top cash prizes for the winners. Without any of their or other investment, the SLSRFA is looking for a harvest which belongs to someone else. Before anything else, the SLSRFA must think whether they have done their obligations by the member schools. If not, they are no more the supreme body. Athletes get foreign touch Sri Lanka athletics have finally got that foreign expertise they needed. Thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, three professional Ukrainian international coaches have arrived to train our athletes. The Sports Ministry funds about Rs. eight million per year to meet the total expenses of the three coaches. But that is certainly an investment for the future. What is needed is to get maximum out of their stint here. Initially, they will be tried out for two years. The three Ukrainians are not the very best in the trade compared to the ultra modern coaches in the US. But we cannot obtain such top class Americans unless we throw out a minimum monthly salary of USD 10,000 each. Sri Lanka pay USD 1,800 a month each for their three coaches and the selections have been made taking our requirements and affordability into consideration. |
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