A better future for local soccer

Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is a money spinner in Europe and professional players are earning big money. Millions of dollars and euros are thrown in open market to secure services of elite players and sign professional contracts with the leading clubs in the European leagues.

But when it comes to football in Sri Lanka, it has always been the poor man's sport. Even at school level, parents encourage their children to play the so-called 'highbred' sports such as cricket, rugby, tennis and golf. It is generally the children of schools which are not considered 'popular', who indulge in sports such as football, athletics and volleyball.

However, local football has been under the safe wings of none other than Manilal Fernando who has been trying hard to take Sri Lanka soccer to international arena. It's true that his huge efforts have not been reflected well as far as the results are considered. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka football has shown a marked improvement during the last couple of years and our lads have made their presence felt at South Asian level.

The godfather of Sri Lanka soccer, Manilal Fernando has been striving hard to improve the standard of the game as well as living conditions of national players, even finding suitable employment for several players and better training facilities. The sport here is fortunate to have the services of a person such as Fernando who has a passion for soccer.

It is nice to see the poor man's sport in Sri Lanka reaching greater milestones under State patronage. It was none other than the First Citizen who graced the grand opening of the redeveloped Vernon U. Fernando Stadium in Kalutara. The fully-fledged Sports complex in Kalutara was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week.

Incidentally, it was the sports-loving President who opened the first phase of the complex when he was the Prime Minister exactly four years ago. Paying a special tribute to the Security Forces, President Rajapaksa said the new Sports Complex is one of the greatest achievements in the field of sport after the country was liberated.

As the President has emphasised at his speech as the chief guest, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka has been in the forefront of soccer development in the country. Fernando and his successors have done a great job for the development of the sport, developing stadia for the benefit of the players.

It is good to see stadia of this nature coming up in the outstations to cater to the needs of rural youth. This was precisely why the President requested Fernando keep up his good work and to construct stadia of this nature in outstations.

Sport is a great leveller and could make an effective bridge to link the youth in the North and the South. Especially soccer could play a greater role in the nation building process and develop energetic youth in the North and the South. Unlike cricket, it does incur heavy burden on players.

Hence, soccer could easily be developed in the schools in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces. The FFSL has already embarked on several projects and would make every endeavour to get youth in those provinces get actively involved in the sport. Sport is a great tool which could bind people together for peace and prosperity. Hence, it is vital to develop sports in the country.

Fernando is an influential person in the international football arena and got down Mohamed Bin Hammam, the President of the Asian Football Confederation, to grace the grand opening in Kalutara. The Asian soccer chief said that it is a pleasure to be present here on this historic day to see another milestone reached by Fernando who is a hard worker. The AFC boss has promised to intervene and obtain funds from the world body - FIFA and AFC for the development of the game.

The FFSL has been instrumental in developing three other stadia in Colombo, Mannar and Ampara. Especially the grounds and sports complexes that would come up in Ampara and Mannar will be a big boost for the players in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces. Already ten football stadia in various parts of the country are in use and steps will be taken to develop them in the near future, he said.

On the very next day after the Vernon U. Fernando Stadium opening in Kalutara, there came another 'gift' to local soccer. The City Football League ground which was redeveloped with the funds received from the Tsunami Solidarity and the Basel pavilion, a donation from Ms. Gigi Oeri, the Chairperson of FC Basel and President of the SCORT Foundation, Switzerland, was opened by the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday.

The venue has been a popular ground for the less affluent players in Colombo and suburbs. It is now a fully-equipped flood-lit venue with all the modern facilities and the main building comprises a secretariat, gymnasium, auditorium and a dormitory for the players.

It all augurs well for the sport and the efforts of Fernando and the FFSL should take Sri Lanka soccer to greater heights. There is plenty of talent in the outstations. Opening stadia of this nature across the country would help those talented youth to harness their talent.

North has produced many talented sportsmen and women in the past. If we make an investment and get those youth actively involved in sport, they should make a similar contribution. Our valiant Security Forces have paved way for that goal.