Manilal in many committees of FIFA:

Sports Minister determined to uplift football

Hafiz Marikar

Few remember the glorious past of Sri Lanka football. Few remember the part played by the officials for the uplift of the game in this country.

Manilal Fernando who brought honour to the country by becoming the first to get into the FIFA Executive Committee, has been appointed to a few more committees in the FIFA management in recognition for his competence and honest work. With our sporting Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage a product of Kandy District, an old Royalist, determined to do his best to bring all sport to a competitive level and is determined to see that football, primarily the poor man's game is given a big filip.

Football is undoubtedly one of the most popular sports in the Sport Minister's electorate. Today football is lacking proper grounds for its progress. No football club in the country has a ground to call its own. Football is perhaps one of the most popular sports in the world which was introduced to us by the Europeans.

From the early years of barefoot competition to the present age of sophisticated football, Sri Lanka has played a vital role in its growth. Today, football has a Headquarters of their own and a training centre, there are more clubs in football than any other sport but what they lack is proper playing fields. Manilal Fernando, the kingpin of football did his best to promote the game and gave his best to keep the game alive and kicking. His service to football is invaluable.

He became the first Sri Lanka to be appointed Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation and later became the first Sri Lankan to get into the FIFA Executive Committee.

Today he is holding positions in the FIFA as Chairman of the FIFA Status and Security Committee, Member of the FIFA World Cup Committee, Deputy Chairman Players Status Committee, Deputy Chairman FIFA Fustal Committee and in the Asian Confederation he is an ex-co member, Chairman of the age 27 Development Committee and Member of the AFC Asian Committee.

His main aim is to give the best for the sport, with the backing from the Sports Minister, the man who can help bring the game back to the top. It was Fernando who built Football House, the Beddegana Training Centre, Vernon Fernando Stadium at Kalutara, stadiums at Matara, Kelaniya, Wattala, Mannar, Ampara, Badulla, City Football League, and also gave a big hand for the new CR & FC club house.

A dynamic personality from Kandy District and a versatile young politician with great commitment Aluthgamage is determined to serve the sporting public, like did comparison to this contemporaries in the Sports Ministry such as V.A. Sugathadasa, K. B. Ratnayake, Vincent Perera, Nanda Mathew, S.B. Dissanayake, Lakshman Kiriella, Johnston Fernando, Gamini Lokuge and C. B. Ratnayake.

Aluthgamage has initiated development especially to promote sport for youth at grass roots level. His main aim is to lift sports activities in the country.

He is a very friendly personality, and has a good rapport with all sports bodies in the country with his dynamism and ability to inspire all to work for the benefit of sport in the country.

In this aspect Minister Aluthgamage has the full support of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka in his endeavour to take sport, especially football to the top.