Munchee National Volleyball C'ship from Feb. 21

Bernard PERERA

The Munchee National Volleyball Championship 2008/09 is scheduled to commence on Feb. 21 and will come to a close on April 3 with the finals to be played at National Youth Services Centre, Maharagama. These details were disclosed at a press briefing by President of Volleyball Federation Dilan Perera.

The Volleyball chief addressing the media said Ceylon Biscuits Limited is sponsoring the tournament for the third successive year with a lavish purse. The championship two years ago saw the participation of 2500 Men and Women teams in competition is growing rapidly and last year a total of 2760 teams were seen in action.

This year the number is sure to increase with many teams from Eastern and Northern Province entering the fray this could lead the total to around 3000 teams, said Perera.

Perera adding further said that Ceylon Biscuits Limited has consented to sponsor the championship though they are hard pressed with the current situation. This is something that everybody who loves the national sport should appreciate. He thanked the sponsors for their kind gesture.

The championship will consist two stages before it reaches the national level. First it will the Secretariat Division tourney from which the winners qualify for the Provincial Level commencing from March 7-8 and 14-15. Soon after the completion of this tourney National Championship begins on March 20 and will continue till 27. The finals of both categories men and women are scheduled for April 03.

He also said that the world governing body for the sport has introduced new rules for the sport. The referees and coaches were educated on these and this tournament will see the introduction of these rules for the first time in a local tournament.

Answering a question he said the sport has been knocked out from the South Asian Games to be held in Bangladesh this year. As President of the governing he made a request to the National Olympic Committee to take remedial measures to include the sport. But so far no firm reply has been received regarding this issue.

The Olympic Committee has made arrangements for the SLVBF President to proceed to Bangladesh for the next meeting to forward his submissions, said Perera. He said if they fail to give a good hearing he proposes to conduct a South Asian Volleyball Championship in Sri Lanka and to make it an annual event.

He also did not forget to thank the media for the yeoman coverage done to develop the sport here which has attracted many sponsors as they get the expected mileage.

Minister for Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge who was the chief guest said that his first assignment after getting the Sports Ministry was to get involved with the Munchee Volleyball Championship, where he had to use his signature where a signature campaign was launched to popularise the sport.

This he said has given a big boost for everyone involved with the sport. He paid a glowing tribute to the President of the SLVBF and its officials for great job done in the past for the sake of Volleyball. If not their efforts the sport would have dropped its enthusiasm among the public.

The official need a great appreciation for their hard work. My Ministry always willing to help an association which is working for the sport. With Dilan Perera as President the Association has found things easy to get sponsors, said the Minister. Minister in a lighter vain said if there are any association wanting sponsors it is high time that they consult Mr. Perera to gain good results.

Nandana Wickramage Group Director speaking said the Munchee National Volleyball Championship has gained the highest popularity and it has served the whole country at large. This tournament has become one of the most looked events by the sport loving public.

He further added that though the company faced hardship we decided not to touch a single cent from the money allocated for this event because it has became the most needed project that we have undertaken with a view to serve the nation as it give pleasure for every sport loving individual.

He thanked the SLVBF for giving this opportunity and also assured the co-operation for the future.