Munchee National VB Championship
Jaffna champs Abragaal YC and KKS doubtful  for National stage

The lack of finances and fearing a possible LTTE attack may hinder the Northern champions and runners-up participating in the National stage matches of the Munchee National Volleyball Championship.

The Northern Province final of the National Volleyball Championship was played at Malagam Club Ground on Sunday, where Abragaal Youth Club beat KKS Team 3-0 in straight three sets to win the Northern Championship.

Despite being the first teams to take part in a National Volleyball Championship after nearly five decades, the champions and runners-up, making it to Colombo for the Final Stage matches, to be worked off from March 15 to 23 at the Sugathadasa Stadium are doubtful.

"Our efforts to find a sponsor to bear the burden of our teams expenses have proved futile so far. And we are doubtful about our ability to take part in the National stage, said Captain Gunasingham (Rtd), President of the Jaffna District Volleyball Association on Monday.

"We need at least Rs. 400,000 for the teams to travel to Colombo. We have appealed for assistance from a number of organizations, but nothing concrete has materialized so far," said Gunasingham.

Just a few days ago, Gunasingham hailed the Volleyball Federation’s gesture of inviting Northern teams for the National Championship. "I can’t remember a team from Jaffna taking part in any National tournament after 1946, and this is something great. We were seldom invited for such tournaments, earlier. It is a good thing that the teams from Jaffna too get chances to play in National tournaments," he added.

When asked whether they have requested support from the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation, Gunasingham doubted the SLVF’s ability to provide assistance. "I don’t think the federation can afford to provide such a big amount of money."

In mid 2007, several Jaffna teams --especially athletes -- visited Colombo via Government Security Forces aided transportation for National sports events. "The players fear that they could become LTTE targets. They fear that they could be hit by the LTTE while using transport provided by government forces," said Gunasingham.

Asked what chances the Jaffna teams have of taking part in the National stage matches, Gunasingham said, "I don’t think that we have any realistic chance of making it to Colombo."

The Provincial Stage matches of the National Volleyball Championship were concluded in Sabaragamuwa, Eastern, Northern and Central Provinces on Sunday.

The other five provinces, Western, North Central, Southern, North Western and Uva will conduct their finals over the coming weekend.