When will Kandy's football reach its former glory?

Hafiz Marikar

Kandy football was very strong during the past two decades. The standard of football was very high and the king maker of the game Manilal Fernando gave his fullest support when he was the President of the Controlling Body.

However, Kandy did not have adequate playing facilities. It had only the Bogambara Stadium for matches.

With all that football was regarded mostly as the poor man's game and the players had to undergo many difficulties. But the game went on. Players were keen, spectators were there and the KAFL officials of that time did a good bit of work.

But unfortunately for some unknown reasons, football here is unfortunately on the skids.

Currently Kandy's football is in danger, with hostile crowd behaviour, unwanted remarks made by spectators against rival players, there is a lack of good referees.

These shortcomings are creating problems for the game if not put right soon it could lead to the break down of football in Kandy, Critics attribute this to poor administration and management.

Today, referees are not assigned from the Kandy Referees society of the league. They appoint referees at their own whims and fancies. Poor refereeing is obvious and as a result the game has to suffer.

Football in Kandy appears to be in the doldrums. It took several months to organize the league tournament. According to the club officials matches are not played in a proper manner.

Most of the clubs in Kandy are worried as the game appears to be falling apart.

Two weeks back, the Kandy AFL final between Madiyamalanka SC and Kandy York SC took place at Bogambara. With the scores reading one goal each, with goals coming in each half, it was M. Ajmer who scored first for Madiyamalanka and in the second half S. Banda netted for the Kandy York.

With six minutes to go for the final whistle, Madiyamalanka's goal scorer Ajmer went for another goal. He took a direct kick from 25 meters right, which stuck the goal keeper's boot and rebounded into play.

The supporters of the rival team were not happy with the linesmen Manjula Gunasekara. Apparently Ajmer had kicked from an offside position. The other linesmen M. Fazeer joined the referee Nalaka Silva and after a minutes discussion, decided to call off the game. What an end to a cup final.

According to the public, the organizers have apparently failed to inform the Police about the final being played. Normally the Kandy Police helps.

That was the end of the game. The KAFL is keen on replaying the final, and according to Madiyamalanka SC players they are not in favour of a replay. In the League game between the two teams, Madiyamalanka SC won by 5 goal to 3 and the losers Kandy York SC protested, saying that winners played a few soldiers and a replay was given and Kandy York SC emerged winners by a goal to nil. Soon after this game the losers of this game Madiyamalanka SC lodged a protest this was upheld.

Then in another incident, Kandy AFL playing in the Inter league tournament, had to play Air Force three times. That too was because of an apparent mess by the KAFL.

First they played in Kandy and it was a draw and in a penalty shootout Air Force won. Kandy lodged a protest saying the opponents had played a few super league players and the game was replayed in Kandy, in which Kandy won 1/0. Air Force protested that Kandy had played some unregistered players and for the third time the match was played.