Minister must ban rebel players to maintain discipline

Enough and more articles were published in the local press on the disgraceful high drama on the selections of the Sri Lanka team for the five-nation tournament in Taipei. But it was the 'naughty boys of Sri Lanka rugby' who have emerged victorious. It was indiscipline that triumphed as the Sports Ministry, Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), National Sports Council and the National selectors looked toothless tigers.

It was the Kandy Sports Club players in the Sri Lanka national team who originally kept away from pool practices, protesting against the appointment of Dushanth Lewke as captain for the tournament. The then Selection Committee, headed by Japuna Jayawardane, quite righty refused to accommodate them in the final tour party.

But Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge thought otherwise. He asked Jayawardena and his selection committee to accommodate the Kandy SC players who have been out of action for several weeks. In keeping with the general belief that discipline should always come first, Jayawardena and his men were not prepared to hit discipline for a six and take the Minister's short-sighted order. What the obvious then took place was that Japuna Jayawardena and his Selection Committee was sacked by the Minister for not entertaining Kandy SC players.

In other words, the selection committee was sacked for trying to maintain discipline and fairplay.

Who advised the Sports Minister to sack the selectors? Nobody, according to the Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC), Dr. Maiya Gunasekera. The former Royal, CR & FC and Sri Lanka player turned surgeon said the NSC only forwarded their findings to the Sports Minister. Who recommended the names of Rohan Abeykoon and the new set of selectors to the Sports Minister? Definitely not the SLRFU!

It is now obvious who has ill-advised Minister Lokuge firstly to sack Jayawardena and his Selection Committee for maintaining discipline and then name a batch of selectors of whom most have affiliation to the God Father of Kandy rugby. Could anyone give a guarantee that the new selectors are unbiased?

The intentions of the appointment of the new Selection Committee and their conduct gave a clear picture of what their ultimate intentions are. The blue-eyed boy was immediately brought in to the team but the Sports Minister was smart enough not to fall into the trap. He refused to entertain the lad and another player. Instead, the Sports Minister ratified the team with two other replacements.

Days later, Chairman of Selectors Rohan Abeykoon made a song and dance, calling a press conference. They declared that they have resigned against the Minister's decision to alter the team and remove No.8 Imran Bisthamin of Kandy SC. The intentions of the selectors well and truly were exposed by the move.

Two days later we saw the selectors who claimed to have tendered their resignations, coming to the grounds to select the team. A few days later, there was a press release from the Sports Ministry that Minister Lokuge has asked Abeykoon and his men to continue.

We are prompted to ask who has shame and who hasn't.? Let our intelligent readers and knowledgeable rugby-loving public decide that. I only described the high drama to put the record straight. We must make it clear that we represent justice, fairplay and discipline.

Hence, we take no sides. We do not care whether its Dushanth Lewke, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe or Dilanka Wijesekera who leads the team. But discipline should always come first, irrespective of credibility and talent.

There have been blunders after blunders in the whole drama. Sacking of Japuna Jayawardena and his Selection Committee for refusing to entertain Kandy SC players was an unethical decision. We do not call it a wrong decision because the Sports Minister has every right to fire any Selection Committee legally. The Minister should have thought twice before sacking Jayawardena and his committee.

The composition of the new Selection Committee headed by Abeykoon does not look too good for the game. Anyone who has little knowledge about petty club politics in Sri Lanka rugby would know the affiliations and loyalties of the people whom the Minister has appointed. Their initial conduct speaks for itself.

Rohan Abeykoon and his men have no moral and ethical right to challenge the Minister, the man who appointed them. Perhaps Minister Lokuge would have thought fo getting the rebel Kandy SC players back with good intentions. In order to get the Kandy SC players back and give them a chance of playing, the Minister brought Abeykoon's committee.

But just because the selectors wanted one player, they let the Minister down badly and resigned. Have Rohan Abeykoon and his committee acted in a responsible manner and maintained discipline? If not how are they going to set an example and discipline the players? It's frustrating.

The ball is now in the Minister's court. Even after the Minister's second chance for the Kandy SC players to make a comeback, they opted out, this time citing medical reasons. Now the five Kandy SC players who pulled out of the side once again will have to undergo MRI scans which would reveal the real story. We earnestly believe that the Sports Medicine Chiefs would hold a proper investigation and not cover things up.

It is obvious why the Kandy SC players pulled out. Two of them have written to the Ministry stating that they are withdrawing in protest, against the appointment of Lewke. Could the players dictate terms like this to the controlling body (SLRFU), the NSC and even to the Sports Minister?

The sports loving public of this country are watching the developments carefully. The Sports Minister and the SLRFU must take immediate action to ban the players for a certain period so that the bad boys of Sri Lanka rugby would learn a lesson finally. It will be an eye opener for all and a great lesson on discipline for the younger generation.