As the Football Federation goes into a leadership context the question being asked is: will it be a walk in the football park for Dr. Manil Fernando when he contests for the prestigious post of President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka at the forthcoming elections on May 30? Or will Jaswar Umar the former secretary of the FFSL, who also did a commendable job when he was Anura Silva’s secretary in the previous administration give a good run.
However at last count, 46 leagues are said to be promising support to Manil, the young doctor. Whoever wins will hold office for four years – 2021 to 2025. He is tipped to canter home with his opponents running far behind.
Having followed Manil’s interest, playing and involvement in the game from the time he first kicked the big ball at Holy Cross College, Kalutara, the writer makes bold to say that he is the footballer who has the knowhow, credentials and being a doctor of medicine has the necessary oxygen to ail the ills that afflicts the game at present.
In saying this we are not certainly trying to belittle the work done by the present President and his team. The present team led by former national captain Anura de Silva had to face and dribble past the dreaded covid-19, but did a job to the best of their ability to keep the game alive and kicking and we congratulate them on a job well done.
The time has now come for them to allow new blood and adrenaline to flow into the players, the game and the administration and on hand waiting in the ‘dug out’ all knitted up is a doctor who has football blood running in his veins in Dr. Manil who is waiting to enter the football ward .
Dr. Manil having shone as a player for his school Holy Cross College, Kalutara later shone as a star for Greenfield SC. Although having to concentrate on his medical studies, he somehow or the other found the time to see that game progress in his home town Kalutara by being voted President of the Kalutara Football League by popular vote. Helped by a football caring and loving set of office bearers he saw to it that the game thrived and progressed.
Dr. Manil was President of the Kalutata District Football League for over a decade, Chairman of the FFSL Medical Commission and in many other capacities. He also has the distinction of being a member of the Medical Committee of the Asian Football governing body and FIFA and served as Vice President of the FFSL from 2013 to 2015.
So Dr. Manil’s record speaks for itself. His list of office bearers are all with proven credentials and are sure to work as a team to take the primarily accepted poor man’s game and give its participants a better way of life.
Dr. Manil has many more surprises lined up for the player, the game and the administration and while refusing to reveal them will do so once elected to the high office. So it will be seen that the game is in for good times come the election of Dr. Manil to the prestigious post.
Dr. Manil’s father Manilal was the first Sri Lankan to be a Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation, serve on the Legal Committee of the world governing body FIFA and its Executive Committee.
The nominations for the upcoming elections of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) closed at 11am on April 20, 2021 for the period of 2021 to 2025.
Dr. V Manil Fernando was nominated for the post of President of the FFSL by 42 out of 61 football leagues
Dr. Manil is being contested by Jaswar Umar the former secretary of the FFSL who was Anura de Silva’s secretary in the previous administration. He did a competent job and holds a Diploma In Advance Sports Management from the International Olympic Council.
Umar is an Old Royalist and it is surprising to note that a former Royalist is involved in football. History has it that when Royal College played football sometime back in the 1940s, St Benedict’s College beat them by some 20 goals to nil and that it was the end of football at Royal College.
Whoever wins, it’s important that all contestants come together after the hustings and collaborate in the larger interests of football’s future in the country.
Meanwhile a three-member election committee has been appointed to oversee the election of office-bearers of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka .
They are retired Supreme Court Judge Rohini Weerasinghe as Chairperson, retired High Court Judge Sisira Ratnayake and founder District Secretary HM Hitisekera.
(Note: After this column was written it was announced that the FFSL AGM has been postponed)
Sonny Ramaddin 92
Eddie Appathurai that famous Thomian walking cricket Wisden informs me that the famous West Indian mystery spinner Sonny Ramaddin turned 92 recently.
Ramaddin bowling in long sleeves had a variety of deleiveries that baffled opposing batsmen and along with left arm spinner Alf Valentine bowled West Indies to many a memorable victory.
The duo and West Indian cricket enjoyed their best moment in the game when they bowled the West Indies to that famous victory over England at Lord’s on 24th June 1950. Ramaddin was not sure of his place in the second Test after a not so impressive performance in the first Test at Manchester where England won.
But the Windies selectors kept faith in him and included him in the second Test at Lord’s.
With a crafty 20-year old left arm spinner Alfred Valentine, match bag of 7 for 127, and Ramaddin aged 20 with figures of 11 for 162 who were later tagged the ‘spin twins’ bowled West Indies to their first ever Test victory against England at Lord’s by 326 runs that led all Windies into raptures.
The three Barbadians Worrell, Weekes and Walcott played in that Test.
On the ground the Trinidadians Lord Kitchener and Lord Beginner glorified the two spinners in song with their rendition of ‘VICTORY CALYPSO’.