Sports
Medal-winning coaches yet to be rewarded
by Reemus Fernando
The historic achievement of track and field athletes at the recently held Asian Athletics Championships is still causing ripples across the sporting arena. From Tharushi Karunaratne’s record-breaking 800 metres triumph to men’s 4×400 metres relay team’s heroics are being appreciated by all and sundry. The medal winners have been rightly rewarded with the support of the cooperate sector. However the untiring efforts of the true heroes, the medal-producing coaches have gone unrewarded.
The achievement in Thailand was not a miracle. From planting the seeds of belief in these athletes years before they even realized their true potential to peaking them at the right moment to win medals there had been many untold responsibilities undertaken by their respective coaches. The medals were the result of years of hard work and planning by the coaches. The veteran athletes who won medals had been training under these coaches for years. Even during times when no one dared to take up sports. When the country’s sports hierarchy went into a deep slumber during the corona-induced lockdown periods and when even some of their fellow athletes abandoned all hope during the economic crisis these dedicated coaches had motivated their athletes to persevere in their respective disciplines.
In Sri Lanka, the coach’s job goes beyond the boundaries of the playground. It is the coaches who identify the true potential of the athlete, educate their parents of the future potential and even take care of the various needs of the athletes. It should be stated here that a vast majority of the country’s track and field athletes come from not so well to do families. Training such athletes for highly demanding events is no easy task.
The gold-winning 400 metres sprinter Nadeesha Ramanayake was a sixth-place finisher in a 3,000 metres race when she first took part in a Junior National Championship. It was no easy task to introduce and train an athlete who had not won at the junior level a discipline once dominated by a legend like Damayanthi Dharsha. Hadn’t Muddika Thushara identified Ramanayake’s potential at Weeraketiya a decade ago Sri Lanka would not have ended more than two decades of wait for an individual 400 metres gold at the Asian Championship last month.
Sajith Jayalal had been a great source of strength to double bronze medallist Gayanthika Abeyratne for more than a decade. In a sport where rewards are hard to come by just persevering for over a decade in itself is worthy of being rewarded. Had Jayalal decided to be in the comfort of his office at the National Institute of Sports Sciences without parting his knowledge, the likes of Gayanthika and the dozens of athletes from the tri forces would have either given up the sport or be producing substandard performances.
Has any administrator in the Sports Ministry or the Ministry of Education or any other authority ever appreciated Susantha Fernando’s contribution to athletics? Has he ever been appreciated for the many medallists he has produced for Sri Lanka at Asian Youth Championships, Asian Junior Championships, Asian Championships, South Asian Games or open championships? His trainees have gone on to own almost all age category 800 metres national records. Has there been any appreciation at the national level for the yeoman service he has rendered for decades at Ratnayake Central Walala? Tharushi Karunaratne would have given up track and field sport after the ordeal she had to go through at Digana and the unpleasant experience she had to face due to the faux pas in the run-up to the Junior World Championships last year. If not for the mediation of Fernando, Tharushi would have hung up her spikes before her schooldays were over.
Pradeep Nishantha who trains Dilhani Lekamge (bronze medallist of the women’s javelin throw) is the coach to many leading throwers of the country including Paralympics medallists. His guidance has changed the lives of many athletes.
Aruna Dharshana’s journey from Seruwila to Akuramboda would have been meaningless hadn’t Asanka Rajakaruna gone out of his way to help the budding athlete. Many appreciated the performances of Dharshana when he returned from Gifu with the Asian Junior Championship record against his name in 2018. Except the coach not many were behind him when he could not replicate such performances in the immediate aftermath. Sri Lanka may not have won an individual medal in the men’s 400 metres but the men’s 4×400 metres team inclusive of Dharshana were able to create history in Thailand and their time produced to win the relay gold stands as one of the best performances of the globe this year. The other coaches of the men’s relay team members namely Vimukthi de Soyza (Kalinga Kumarage), Daminda Bandara (Pasindu Kodikara), S.P.D. Silva (Pabasara Niku), Harijan Rathnayake (Rajitha Rajakaruna) and Ravindu Theekshana and Anuradha Nanayakkara who train women’s relay team members Nishendra Fernando and Lakshima Mendis respectively have similar stories behind the medal-winning heroics.
Sri Lanka’s track and field owes its success to the many coaches who toil from dawn to dusk to hone the skills of their charges. A vast majority of them do a voluntary job. Hence the coaching fraternity well aware of the service they render were shocked when the medal-winning coaches had to return home empty-handed from a recently held function where their charges were rewarded with handsome cash awards for the medals they won at the Asian Athletics Championships.
Years ago the Ministry of Sports introduced a scheme to reward coaches when their athletes win international medals. What the track and field athletes achieved last month in Thailand was a historic accomplishment which deserves sports ministry backing. The Sports Ministry is yet to act more than two weeks after the athletes had returned home. Having provided their services free of charge these coaches may not ask for cash rewards but it is incumbent upon authorities to reward them appropriately. That will be a huge morale boost for the rest of the coaching fraternity.
The Country’s Sports hierarchy has failed to capitalize on historic track and field achievements be it Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe’s triumphs at the World level or the epic sub ten seconds 100 metres dash of Italy-based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon. What will be the legacy of the historic Asian Championship triumph?
Tunisia’s miserable World Cup continued as their inability to progress from the group stage was confirmed by defeat against Japan.
After a tumultuous week in which they suffered a 5-1 defeat by Sweden, sacked Sabri Lamouchi and appointed ex Saudi Arabia boss Herve Renard as head coach, it took less than four minutes for them to go behind in Guadalupe, Mexico.
An impressive Japan, who were well drilled throughout, broke the deadlock with a quick counter-attack which ended in Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada prodding home from close range at Monterrey Stadium.
It did not take long for a dominant Japan side to inflict a second blow as Ayase Ueda produced a lovely finish to arrow the ball through the legs of a defender and into the far corner from the edge of the box.
Tunisia looked devoid of ideas for much of the game and gifted Japan ample space, which they used to display their free-flowing possession-based style.
Junya Ito added another when he rolled a simple finish past Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen after being threaded through one-on-one.
Ueda wrapped up victory when he tucked a looping header into the far corner.
Japan were constantly a cut above and were never threatened by a Tunisia side who were pedestrian and had every attack easily neutralised.
Japan have four points and are likely at least to progress as one of the best third-placed sides, but they will hope to earn a guaranteed spot in the last 32 when they take on Sweden on Friday in their final group game.
Tunisia play the Netherlands, who are top of the group, at the same time.
[BBC Sports]
Latest News
FFSL renews National Team Head Coach Abdullah Almutairi under “The Next Chapter” program
As part of the newly launched “The Next Chapter” program of Sri Lanka Football, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has renewed the contract of National Team Head Coach Abdullah Almutairi.
The renewal follows discussions held between FFSL President Jaswar Umar and Coach Almutairi regarding the future direction and ambitions of Sri Lanka Football.
During the meeting, President Jaswar Umar expressed his appreciation for the Head Coach’s commitment, professionalism, and positive results delivered over the past two years. He also outlined the new objectives and performance targets that the national team is expected to achieve under the FFSL’s strategic development framework, “The Next Chapter.”
Coach Almutairi completed his first tenure with notable success, helping Sri Lanka achieve significant progress on the international stage. Under his leadership, the national team improved its FIFA ranking substantially, rising from 205 to 187 while recording an impressive number of international victories and positive results within a relatively short period.
President Jaswar Umar stated that he was satisfied with the achievements delivered during Almutairi’s first tenure and the successful completion of key performance targets. As a result, the FFSL had no hesitation in offering him a second contract, reflecting the Federation’s trust and confidence in his leadership and technical expertise.
With the renewed mandate, Coach Almutairi will now lead the implementation of the FFSL’s new technical and competitive objectives, including preparations for upcoming international competitions and the Federation’s long-term vision for national team success.
The renewal marks another important step in “The Next Chapter” initiative, as Sri Lanka Football continues to strengthen its foundations, increase its competitiveness, and build greater visibility and success at both regional and international levels. Football in Sri Lanka is steadily progressing across all areas, supported by a clear vision, strong leadership, and a commitment to sustainable development.
Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey both scored twice as the rampant Netherlands thrashed Sweden 5-1 in a World Cup warning to the favourites.
The big win on Saturday in front of nearly 69,000 at Houston Stadium put the delighted Dutch on the cusp of the knockout rounds and gave them lift-off after being held by Japan.
Ronald Koeman’s side top Group F with four points from two games, ahead of Sweden on three, Japan (one) and Tunisia (zero).
Despite the sobering loss, the Swedes had plenty of chances but were denied by good goalkeeping and wasteful finishing.
Sunderland striker Brobbey got his first start of the tournament and repaid Koeman with predatory goals after five and 17 minutes.
Before that, the 24-year-old had scored only once for his country since making his debut three years ago.
In a game full of top Premier League talent, Liverpool’s Gakpo – who set Brobbey up for the opener – scored twice early in the second half.
Substitute Anthony Elanga from Newcastle United pulled one back for Sweden just before the hour with a classy finish.
West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville had the last word for the five-star Dutch.
Two crew members from the historic Artemis II lunar mission were among the VIP guests, a nod to Houston’s place as the home of space flight.
There was no problem here as the Dutch, twice pegged back in a lively 2-2 draw with Japan to start their title bid, made the brighter start in front of their orange-clad fans and King Willem-Alexander.
Brobbey, who came in for Summerville despite the winger scoring against Japan, started and finished the first goal.
It was made in the Premier League, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Gakpo all involved.
Brobbey exchanged passes with Gakpo, before the Anfield attacker crossed in low from the left for his team-mate to stab in from close range.
Sweden, who thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in their first game, could not handle Brobbey’s muscular presence.
Up front, the much-vaunted attack of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal were feeding on scraps for Sweden.
Twelve minutes after his opener, Brobbey made it 2-0 when a deflected Denzel Dumfries cross from the right fell perfectly into his path and he toe-poked past Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Sweden’s English coach, Graham Potter, was in deep discussions with his backroom staff as the game threatened to run away from them.
At the unpopular hydration break, Potter made a beeline for left-sided defender Gabriel Gudmundsson of Leeds United, who was being overrun by the flying Dumfries and Donyell Malen.
Sweden then had their best chance, Gyokeres crossing for an unmarked Yasin Ayari, who completely miscontrolled the ball with his chest.
Gyokeres was next to fluff a good chance, failing to make proper contact after being played in by the largely anonymous Isak.
Gyokeres and Ayari both had further sights of goal, only to be denied by the increasingly overworked Verbruggen.
The Netherlands were hanging on by the end of the half.
Koeman sent on Summerville for Malen at the break and two minutes later it was mission impossible for Sweden, Gakpo prodding in from close range after yet another dangerous low cross from Dumfries.
All three goals were strikingly similar.
Gakpo scored a lovely fourth on 54 minutes, turning inside his defender before firing low into the bottom corner.
Elanga pulled one back five minutes later when he raced clear of the Dutch defence and rattled the ball past Verbruggen.
Summerville made it five in the dying minutes with his second goal in North America.
Sweden are still in with a good chance of progressing into the last 32.
Japan and Tunisia play later Saturday in Monterrey, Mexico.
Sweden face Japan next, while the Netherlands play Tunisia.
[Aljazeera]
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