Organising sports

Let us first take the case of Football. Our organisers feel that they have done their job by appointing a good coach. The coach has to be given all the support he needs including suggestions in the light of realities of this country. It is said that, "You cannot teach a new technique to an old horse.

" Ignoring this dictum they tried to use the old horses to salvage our status as a football loving nation. We need to have under 19, under 22 and under 25 national teams. These three teams under three different coaches could play against each other on a regular basis and from these teams the national team could be formed and placed at the disposal of the national coach. The national team should tour the neighbouring countries and participate in tournaments abroad. Football at club level and regional level also requires attention. Sportsmen are to be well looked after if we want them to give their best. Professionalism in club football has to start now.

Now let us take the case of cricket. This is some what better organised compared to other sports but the longer version of the game and ODI are different ball games altogether and we require to have two separate national teams. This is particularly true about the batsmen. The all-rounders should be included in both Test and ODI teams. Unless we have a team of batsman with Test match playing temperament we can never win Test matches. Batsman of our Test team must only play the longer version of the game, similarly the specialist batsman of the ODI team must only play in limited over matches. Batsman who play too many ODIs cannot maintain the temperament required for playing Test matches.

Field Hockey is another game in which we can achieve the international standard within a very short period of time. Our hockey has been messed up by the mismanagement of our hockey officials. It requires outstanding organisers to manage this discipline.

Swimming, diving, shooting, boxing, weightlifting and wrestling are few other sports in which we can do well and bring laurels for the country, provided we approach these games in a professional manner.

Our sports ministry has to organise itself first and give required support and leadership to the sports bodies starting at school level.

We would like our government to take sports more seriously. Australia is one country that approaches its sporting activities in a highly professional manner. It has paid them dividends. We have a lot to learn from Australia and China. We can take the help and assistance of Australia in organising out sporting activities. Sports are quite efficiently managed in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.