Sports Minister happy with FFSL

Hafiz MARIKAR

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, met the Sri Lanka Football Federation officials a few days back at his office. He is all out to help the game. His main aim is to take the game to the Leagues (Villages). He has said that with the 2018 Commonwealth Games here, he is all out to give his best support to the 324 AGA divisions where grounds will be provided and also the twenty five district too will get the same facility, where all sports can be played.

He has also promised to upgrade the Sugathadasa Stadium to International standards and also has told that he will try and do his best to get the Reid Avenue Grounds for football.

If it works, Manilal Fernando has vouched to obtain help from FIFA and AFC to make this venue one of the best in the Asian region, where international matches can be played.

Minister said that improvements have to be made to help make Sri Lanka football the best. He knows that the Ministry has to play an important role to promote and develop sports. In this endeavour Sri Lanka has got an efficient Minister who is all out to help to develop sports. Football is one sport in the country which is played every where, even during the war, football was played in those areas.

Sports Minister Aluthgamage, speaking to me after his meeting said he believed Sri Lanka Football has a bright future. if they help the outstation footballers, I replied that it was so when Manilal Fernando was the President that outstation football was blooming. His objectives and main goal was to develop at grass roots level and get many people as possible involved in the game, instill human values above all, to bring enjoyment to youngsters simply by letting them take part.

Minister is happy over the youth development programmes engaging regional co-ordinators and coaches but added that we should monitor their performances. He also said that there are many young players in the schools of rural areas which talent we could tap and build them up for the future. He agreed to instruct the project officers attached to his Ministry to assist FFSL in this venture.

Aluthgamage a product of Royal College, Colombo is a keen follower of all sports and said that Sri Lanka has some good footballers, and are sure to be recognized , but still needed strong autonomous, well governed leagues.

I told him, I served as Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Football League for three years among with promoters of the caliber of Manilal Fernando as the Chairman of the Management Committee, Chrysantha Perera the CEO, Hurley Silvera the then President, Sarth Weerasekara the present president who was the senior Vice President, Rangith Rodrigo who was a Vice President and the man who is tipped to be the next President, Dr Manil Fernando the Youth Development Committee Chairman, all in promotion of football, and have done their best for the game, along with Directors like G A K Abeyasekra, M T Fernando, M Premadasa, Rukmal Perera, Mahinda Pala, Viraji Belpamulla, Anura de Silva, Niel Ubayesekara, Mushin Ariff, Palitha Wickremagae, A M Yapa.

Minister Aluthgamage like the past Sports Minister is trying to give his best for sports, and has told that the way football affairs are conducted; it is an example to all sport bodies. All National sports bodies will do well to take a example from the Football Federation, on how the organization and management is conducted to run its affairs. This should be stated due to the keenness, commitment and dedications of Manilal Fernando over the years. The Football Federation has conducted these affairs with distinction and today the football governing body is above board.

Today the Football Federation has a well equipped headquarters to call its own, in the early days they were shifted from pillar to post. It was under Manilal Fernando's Presidency the idea of the headquarters was mooted.

He built the training centre and the hostel at Baddegana all with the backing of the FIFA and AFC. So, now it is up to MP Sarath Weerasekra and his band to continue the good job done by the past football promoters. Also they should not forget the people who helped football when there was no support from the leagues.