Sri Lanka rugby three-quarter Dansha Dayan has decided to search for greener pastures in Colombo after serving his hometown club Kandy SC with distinction for over a decade.
“I would like to join a professional club like CR and FC,” the 29-year-old former Sri Lanka Sevens captain told the Sunday Observer.
The Sri Lanka Sevens star had been an integral part of Kandy SC since turning out for the champion club as a schoolboy in 2012.
An outstanding product of St Anthony’s College, Katugastota, Dansha Dayan Chandradas achieved a high point in his rugby career when he was chosen to captain Sri Lanka in the 2019 Asian Rugby Sevens Series.
However, like many rugby players he suffered from disillusionment after the Covid-19 pandemic brought the game to a standstill for nearly two years. He was deprived of the opportunity of representing Sri Lanka at the Asian Sevens Championship in UAE last year because Kandy SC did not participate in the selection trials.
Despite his unwavering loyalty to Kandy SC contributing to their success in the league this year, Dayan was not a blue-eyed boy of the hill country club and felt discriminated against when it came to receiving incentives such as a house or vehicle. The economic downturn made life even more difficult for the father of a two-and-half-year-old child as he tried to make ends meet by starting a welding business with his father. As contract negotiations with the club headed nowhere he decided to part ways amicably with Kandy SC.
“I regret to inform you that I am resigning from my contract with Kandy Sports Club. Although I have enjoyed the company of the Kandy team mates and members for over 11 years, there are many other priorities in my life at this time and I have made the decision to step down in order to make life more meaningful.
“I hereby relinquish all rights, responsibilities and privileges as a Kandy club player, effective immediately. I appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this current crisis,” the Kandy SC stalwart posted in his Facebook page addressing fans of the club.
“I hope that my resignation does not in any way cause inconvenience and would like to apologise in advance if this is the case. I have enjoyed participating in the Kandy Sport Club duties and functions throughout the duration of my playing time and will miss doing so. I wish the club continued success and hope that the members and players and I may enjoy keeping in touch in the future. Thank you for your patience and understanding at this time,” stated Dayan who is in the Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
This is not the first time he took to social media to air grievances of players, venting his frustration at the rugby establishment when the sport was in limbo last year with officials struggling to restart rugby because of the Covid situation and various other reasons.
Despite establishing himself as a standout performer in the international arena, he is not considered a national treasure by either his long-serving club or the rugby governing body which is yet to come up with a scheme to offer professional contracts to players. In fact he is feeling the brunt of the economic crisis faced by Sri Lankans and is psychologically affected by the boomerang effect of fuel shortages in the country.
“We also have to rush to stand in petrol queues after practice,” said Dayan who is in Kandy for a weekend break with his family.