Football to the fore!
Following are excerpts of an interview with Football Federation of Sri Lanka President Ranjith Rodrigo
Ranjith Rodrigo
Q: You were elected FFSL President in March 2013. What is your vision for Sri Lanka football?
A: I have a major task to fulfil transforming the sport from the debacles of the past. The overriding vision is to make football the most popular sport in Sri Lanka and lift its standards on par with other Asian nations.
Q: Looking back over the past one year, what progress has been made to better structure, market and develop financing systems for Sri Lanka football?
A: Excellent progress has been made in a short time. We are in the process of a significant restructuring program which will be concluded before the next term begins in April
next year. We have also been able to attract substantial funding with grants from FIFA and AFC as well as other friendly Member Associations in Asia. The Ministry of Sports has also been extremely supportive. From the private sector in Sri Lanka, Cargills Ceylon Plc and Dialog Axiata Plc have been in the forefront; in fact the National Partner status that we have forged with Cargills is very far-reaching and will in the future link their extensive network with all our affiliated Leagues throughout Sri Lanka.
Q: You were also elected Vice President of SAFF in March 2014. What are your most noteworthy achievements in cultivating international support for Sri Lankan football during the past one year?
A: I have been very fortunate to develop very cordial relations with the FIFA and AFC Presidents as well as the Presidents of our Member Associations in Asia. The Presidents of Qatar, UAE, Korea, Japan, Thailand, India and so many others have been become great friends helping each other and inviting us as never before to participate in competitions and other important Football events.
Q: Sri Lanka won the 1995 South Asian Gold Cup and reached the second qualification stage for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. How would you explain the progress and evolution of Sri Lanka football over the past 20 years?
A: Regrettably, we faced a dramatic decline since our last victory in the South Asian tournament. Poor planning and other preoccupations have been the cause of that sorry state. I myself must share that blame but could do very little as a VP given the mindset that prevailed. We are now trying to correct all that. Recent performances under a new international coach show signs of a revival but it is too soon to call. We have a young team and shall persist with our plans by playing more and more international competitions to expose and groom our squads.
Q: What does Sri Lanka have to do to appear in the FIFA World Cup? What is your advice to our star players who dream of participating in the World Cup? What is the roadmap and do you believe 2022 is an achievable goal, if not earlier in 2018?
A: A dream at present. Our players need to move into a professional structure and that is the responsibility of the Football Federation. Our Partner program with Cargills aims to improve the economic well being of our players so that they can develop the strength to compete with developed Football nations. 2022 is not impossible. Most of us may not even be there but surely we must start now and that is what I am determined to do!
Q: Sri Lanka is not a traditional football nation so how will FFSL attract the future stars of Sri Lanka football? What ways and methods are FFSL exploring to discover, select, train, and channel hidden young talents into the sport, and ultimately, the national team?
A: I won’t say that we are not a traditional football nation. We have a 75-year history and produced formidable teams in the past. The reality is that other nations progressed while we remained stagnant. Our focus in long-term development are the nurseries of football which is the school and youth groups. Through the FIFA Grassroots program and other initiatives, we hope to develop a strong football culture and attract new players to the game. That is why we are extending the Leagues to reach the far corners of Sri Lanka and spot the hidden talent we have in abundance.
Q: Football programs in schools, clubs and communities form the foundation from which players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers of the future emerge. What grassroots programs including instruction, coaching, and referee training and certification has FFSL introduced or promoted to achieve a stronger Sri Lankan football culture?
A: We have a well-knit and concerted program in all these areas but admittedly require more international expertise to progress to better levels. Our local technical people lack exposure and are not sufficiently attuned to international standards. However with FIFA and AFC support, these matters are being addressed.
Q: What domestic competitions and championships has FFSL created to foster a higher level of competition among aspiring young footballers?
A: We have an annual calendar of national level competitions for men, women and youth football. The Dialog Champions League and the Cargills Foodcity FA Cup are the two premier senior events while the CHOX U 19 Schools and the Samaposha U 15 Schools Tournament are the lead competitions for youth. The women’s section is also covered at all age levels. In addition, we have FUTSAL and Brach football events covering the gamut of competitions. The trick here is to mould all these competitions into a cohesive program that will ensure improvement in all technical areas and the overall player development.
Q:What additional infrastructure needs to be built in the short-term and long-term to further develop and finance Sri Lanka football at both national and grassroots level?
A: Good dedicated football stadia in all main towns will help accelerate this development process. We have a few football centres gifted by FIFA which need to be fully harnessed to support this process and attract our youth. We are also examining the feasibility of setting up Football academies that will focus on talented youth players and groom them for national duty in good time. The lack of good stadia also hinders fund flows as gates cannot be properly organised. Furthermore, we cannot attract top teams and also train our national squads without such facilities. A herculean task that cannot be solved overnight, but certainly a matter of high importance!
Q: As FFSL President, what opportunities for sponsorship and promotion have you identified to raise awareness and generate funding for Sri Lanka football at both national and grassroots level? Have the private and government sectors been targeted? How is it yielding results? Is it a distant dream or does Sri Lanka football have the potential to one day target key sponsorships from leading international kit suppliers like Adidas, Nike, and Puma?
A: We have made good progress but it is an area that demands expertise and determination. Cargills has demonstrated a belief in football and taken a long-term view. Dialog has remained a key sponsor but the big names have not engaged as yet because the football following is confined to the provinces. We are reinforcing our Marketing Division to address this area as the commercial world is not sufficiently aware of the market penetration that football offers. We will shortly launch the first professional competition titled the Carlton Football League, which will in my view transform the image of football in Sri Lanka as you can see happening now in the Indian Football League.
Q: Football teaches our youth important core values such as leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship. What relationships and partnerships has the FFSL established with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to further assist and support educators to deliver on their learning objectives and skills development?
A: Indeed this is an area that is totally lacking in partnership. FFSL cannot do this alone but the AFC One Goal project is something we have embraced and pursued vigorously by a Senior Ex Co member, Trevor Reckerman. He is working with NGOs and private sector companies to make football relevant to our communities. The FIFA UNAIDS Protect the Goal campaign is one such initiative and the FIFA 11 for Youth is another that majors on day to day health issues. Links with the Ministries have not evolved as yet but I will welcome partnerships as we move on!
Q: Sri Lanka has repeatedly demonstrated its star power in cricket. Is football still in the shadow of Sri Lanka’s test cricket team or has it grown in stature as an alternative sport to be respected in its own right?
A: There is a chasm between these sports, with the cricketer favoured above the footballer at all levels. It does not deter us. Football is easily the world’s most popular sport. So I see no reason as to why it cannot be so in Sri Lanka. To do that we have a lot of work to do and that is my task. Football is a more inclusive sport, relatively cheaper to play, and does not take a long duration; you have a result in 90 minutes. The world’s biggest leagues have an international following and our youth are switched on. We need to make that connection and make football attractive and rewarding to our people. Then the goals will come!
