Remarkable events in local football
FFSL paves correct path to promote schools football

By Gamini Perera
The few schools which played football, years back, did so on a low key, without any assistance, technical or material from the then controlling body.

Undoubtedly, other sports such as Rugger and Cricket were given priority over football, which seemingly faded as the years rolled by.

Hence, the biggest drawback for the growth and the development of football at national level, and as a not worthy contender in the Asian circuit, was the absence of a meaningful collegiate football promotional programme.

Needless to mention, that the successful culmination of any human endeavour commences in the schools. They are known as the nursaries, which produce engineers, doctors, lawyers, religious and social leaders, politicians, scientists and sportswomen. If any nursery is non-existent, it follows no growth or development to reach national or international standards. This is the irony of it.

Schools football in Sri Lanka dates back to well over a century. Much before a national body for the sport was formed.

Well over seven thousand schools indulge in sports today, and it is unfortunate that not even seven per cent are involved in competitive football. History records that football had been played in schools in this country as early as 1881.

In the national archives, it is reported that St. Patrick’s College Jaffna, introduced football in 1881.

Rev. Fr. J. A. R. Smythe (1881), Rev. Fr. Dunne (1889), Rev. Fr. Band (1902) Rev. Fr. Larose (1909), Br. Brygent (1920), Rev. Fr. T. M. F. Long (1930), A. S. Alagaratnam (1936), B. R. Motha (1942), and thereafter R. Satchtihanandan, C. Swamipillai, Rev. Fr. T. A. J. Mathuranayagam, Rev. Fr. G. A. Francis Joseph and Fr. J. Francis, continued their patronage until 1976. From this point the game gradually drifted downhill.

In 1917, the first XI football team of St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna was led by a Sinhalese, Walter G. Perera. He was a leader by popular choice.

Serious football

In the same vein, Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai has played serious football from 1914, until the mid-seventies, around which time their commitment to the sport waned due to lack of encouragement and assistance from the national body.

Similarly, in the deep South, St. Thomas’ College, Matara, dominated in the sport in the early twenties.

St. Mary’s College, Negombo which started football as a collegiate sport in 1900, led the North Western province coastal belt in promoting football. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel, Rev. Fr Stanley Mellawa, and K. Paul Perera as principals pioneered the sport at St. Mary’s, Negombo.

In the hills, Dharmaraja College, Kandy, played competitive football six years before the formation of the national body for football. M. T. A. Ossen and Lt. Col. C.S. Fernando, were two of the brilliant products. Both captained the national team in later years. Dharmaraja College, had emerged unofficial champions of Kandy schools for a number of years.

In Gampola, where football is still played with a religious fervour, Zahira College was in the frontline in promoting football in a big way. Pioneers like, Messrs, Mathai, S. H. A. Washeed and Sugandaraj who fashioned the destinies to the sport have always been remembered.

Rumy Packeer Ally, the famous Bangladesh professional now coaching the Police team, U. L. M. Latheebu and K. R. M. Zafarullah, are a few of Gampola’s illustrious products. They all came in for national recognition.

Prominence

In the outstations, leading schools have gradually given up football, or have attached less importance to football giving prominence to cricket and rugby.

There were many institutions in Colombo which promoted football as major curriculum sport in their respective schools.

St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena, had been a major force in schools football. St. Joseph’s College, Royal College, S. Thomas’ College MTL, Zahira College, Wesley College, were some of the well known schools in Colombo which took to football in a big way in the early 1900s. However, in the absence of a schools football promotional programme, priority was not given to the sustenance of football in the schools.

Promotional drive

The Sri Lanka Schools Football Association, on which the controlling body relies heavily for a football promotional drive in the schools, seems to be rather ineffective today. This body, to be effective should be guided and directed by top officials in the Ministry of Education.

At present, the FFSL has taken the task of promoting football in the schools in a big way. The Junior Football Programme introduced under the auspices of the FFSL, and ably directed by a body to carry on the promotional activities has been a worthwhile effort in promoting football in the schools.

However, if this programme is to make any significant headway it should receive the unstinted co-operation of a vibrant Sri Lanka Schools Footbal Association. Then, and then only will football take root and grow at grassroots level in the schools.