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It looks obvious that tennis in Sri Lanka has not entered a satisfying new year 2009. Being run under an interim administration, since August 30 last year, the New Year dawned with a lot of new promises, the most prominent one being spreading tennis outside Colombo. But how realistic and genuine are its methodology and approach to achieve that noble objective.
Negombo Tennis Centre
SLTA considers the opening of a new tennis centre in Negombo on January 9 (Friday) as a big step forward in their effort to popularising the sport in the suburbs. The launching of this new project is considered the most important move in the right direction after the SLTA initiated her Mini Tennis Programme in Kalutara last November. It was reported that the Interim Committee has designed an overall plan for tennis development in the island. With the stipulated Annual General Meeting is coming up next March, the interim administration has to come up with some substantial action, some realistic project aiming to develop tennis or to uplift the sport from its present status. At least some genuine effort has to be evident by now, five months after its appointment.
SLTA Coaching Programme
There was a lot of criticism leveled against the present Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) coaching programme these days. It’s being headed by Cryshantha Perera. In this extremely restricted sport here, the future of the upcoming players depend heavily on the SLTA coaching programme that has been run at the SLTA premises by its head coach and his assistants. There are no five, six other tennis caching centres in the island, like what could be the case in any other country in the region. Therefore the SLTA programme plays a decisive role. When Arul Amalanathan was heading this programme, some promising juniors like Franklyn Emmanuel emerged and sustained by it. What Amalanathan was doing there was a full-time job. But the main accusation Perera gets now is that he not doing a full-time coaching job there while receiving a handsome salary from the SLTA. Instead, he is involved in private coaching, it is alleged. If that is the case with the people who head a ‘national’ coaching structure, it looks nothing but humiliating. It gives the impression that the people who hold the most important responsibilities are thinking of themselves rather that working together for common objective. The interim administration has to address this issue sooner rather than later. The standards will surely drop in future if the present obscure situation continues with regard to this main coaching programme. It they pay, they have to receive a better job. Eventually the credibility of the programme will be lost beyond repair.
Godamanna quits ATP Tour
Sri Lanka tennis’ pride during the last three, four years was her best player Harshana Godamanna who had resolved to be engaged in a challenging Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour at the Futures Tournament level. But last December, Godamanna had decided to quit the tour with a world rank of 856. He was in fact the third to enter below 1000 world rank from Sri Lanka after the modern world men’s tennis ranking system was introduced. This could be considered a great blow to the country’s tennis. On one hand, Sri Lanka will lose her one and only player at the international stage and in near future he will also be focusing on his studies in the USA thus abandoning National duty, especially representing the country in the Davis Cup. Sri Lanka will then lose her best player and possibly as a result will end up in the lowest Group in her region in Davis Cup. On the other hand, Godamanna’s decision to leave the ATP will surely give a discouraging signal to the generations that follow. It’ll only reveal how demanding and challenging it could be to involve in the ATP as a Sri Lankan.
Rohan de Silva called for explanation
For airing his genuine ideas on the forthcoming unhealthy situation in Sri Lanka tennis that will befall after Godamanna’s leaving, former veteran Davis Cup player and Davis Cup Non-Playing Captain Rohan de Silva has been asked to make explanations before the SLTA interim committee. It’s nothing but absolutely funny and crazy. There is no point in looking at the finger when one points to the moon! Is the interim committee surrounded by an unprecedented fear psychosis? A coherent, far-sighted and honest body would tend to address the issues rather than punishing the ones who come up with some constructive criticism.
When comes the National Selectors
The long delay in appointing the National Tennis Selection Committee will only give the interim a bad image. They have already taken nearly two months’ time to finalise on the names of the five-member selection committee. The delay shows one glaring quality of the present tennis administration. It’s falling short of having achieved a prime characteristic of a successful administration; the unity, uniformity and collectivity. If the Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamni Lokuge expected a smooth flowing of affairs when appointing members from two rival parties in one interim administration, that is not happening right now, as it’s evident. The persons of a national administration are expected to grasp the gravity of their job and the responsibility that come with it. Controlling a national sport is different from doing a public sports club. Spreading tennis is much, much bigger job. Rather than just uttering big words, there should be some convincing action that would support those words. The time will really tell what’s coming up in the future of Sri Lanka tennis.
