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No ‘Freedom’ for past National
players Several past National Soccer players are up in arms against a directive by the Football Federation (FFSL) barring them from utilizing their Football Federation identity card to witness the on going Bristol Freedom four nation tournament, at the stadium. The FFSL Secretary C. Perera conformed that they have decided to temporary suspend all passes issued to players and Referees for this event. He said that if a past player wish to witness Freedom cup matches he could do so by coming to the FFSL at Reid Avenue Colombo 7 and obtaining a special pass. "Or else they could purchase a ticket at either Rs. 25, 100 or 150" he said. Chryshantha also said that they did not know who issued these players passes or when and therefore suspension of these passes could iron out a lot of problems," he said. Naina Mohamed who scored the historic goal in 1988, to put Sri Lanka to a 1-nil victory over Thailand, was one such player at the receiving end, of this surprising move by the FFSL. "I was given permission to enter from the main gate but at the pavilion entrance I was humiliated," he said. He asked if this was the treatment meted out to recent players by the FFSL. "I wonder if Arjuna Ranatunge or Muralitharan would ever be refused entry at any cricket match, even in the next decade," he said. Another former player said that a similar incident happened to him and he was forced to buy a Rs. 150 ticket. "Still I had to witness the match six or seven rows behind since the FFSL official’s families in large numbers were occupying the first few rows," he said. A Badulla National Soccer player asked the wisdom behind the FFSL move, asking players to come to their Headquarters to collect a pass to witness the match. "Since there is a Secretariat at Galadari Hotel there is no one at FFSL even to answer a call," he said. The FFSL Secretary’s statement that players could buy tickets at the entrance is contrary to the view expressed by the FFSL President V. Manilal Fernando at the press confab. "We are not staging this tournament to earn money" he said at that time. Following is the clause stated in the FFSL Official ID Card. "This identity card entitles the bearer to enter in to any arena to witness free of charge any soccer tournament conducted by Football Federation of Sri Lanka or any of its affiliates. The copy of the players ID received by The Island was signed by FFSL Former Secretary Brdg. Ananda Weerasekera. We will win Sri Lankan team Skipper cum Custodian Lalith Weerasinghe said that they are likely to drop Imitiaz and bring in Anis. "We are confident today and are hoping to beat Malaysia by at least a victory margin of three goals," he said. Asked why Sri Lanka failed to win against Maldives he said it was due to a small mistake. "This happened in the last minute and we did not have time to recover," he added. The Sri Lankans play Malaysia at 6.30 p.m. while Maldives confront India at 4 p.m., today. Air Force spikers take Mayor’s Cup Sri Lanka Air Force remained supreme in the inaugural Mayor’s Trophy Sports Festival, successfully completed at the Sugathadasa Stadium last week. Air Force male spikers outspiked the formidable White Horse team 3-2 in the semi-finals and trounced Ports Authority 15-5, 15-7 and 15-10 to clinch the championships. The Airmen also excelled in the Wresting championships, by annexing the trophy. Hatton National Bank netballers once again had their own way when they edged out Kandy District netball team 66-38 to clinch the championship. Despite the absence of national players as in the case of Netball, the Soccer championship was keenly contested. Ratnam finally emerged victorious when they outplayed Saunders by a solitary goal. Mohamed Rahuman was the goal scores. Body Building championship was taken away by the hosts, Colombo Municipal Council. As expected the event organised by Colombo Municipal Council saw a very high standard being maintained. Attractive cash prizes too were awarded for the Winners. And the event was promised to be an annual one. Karu Jayasuriya, Mayor, Colombo was the chief guest and gave away the awards. Six games, Cricket, Football, Volleyball, Netball, Body Building and Wrestling were conducted at this sports festival and 32 clubs including outstation clubs battled for the Colombo Mayor’S Challenge Trophy. LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The ball lashed into the Brazilian net by Emmanuel Petit to seal France’s soccer World Cup victory last July is to be auctioned next month. Top auctioneers Christie’s said on Monday that the ball would be sold by the match referee, Said Belqola of Morocco, as part of an auction of soccer memorabilia on December 10. "The football is one which was used during the match and was the ball used when Emmanuel Petit scored France’s third goal in the final moments of the match," Christie’s said. "At the final whistle the ball was kicked away in disappointment by a Brazilian player and was subsequently retrieved and presented to Said Belqola." The auctioneers expect it to fetch between 12,000 and 15,000 pounds ($20,080 and $25,100). The ball was one of 15 supplied for the final in which France beat Brazil 3-0 in the Stade de France. It will go on offer in Christie’s Glasgow auction house. ($1=.5975 Pound) Griqualand West 27-1 v Windies in second innings at tea KIMBERLEY, South Africa, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Griqualand West were 27 for one in their second innings and trailed West Indies by 168 at tea on the third day of their four-day match on Monday. West Indies were all out 50 minutes after lunch for 466 in reply to the home side’s first innings total of 271. Mervyn Dillon and Courtney Walsh shared a last-wicket partnership of 50 for the West Indies to stretch the first innings lead to 195. Dillon was the last man out, caught by Wendell Bossenger off Deon Kruis for 44. Walsh, batting without a runner despite a sprained ankle, was 15 not out. Walsh did not come out at the start of Griqualand West’s second innings, leaving the new ball to Dillon and Franklyn Rose. Carl Hooper struck in the 10th over of the home innings, having Martyn Gidley caught at silly mid-off for four with his first ball. Moors
SC victorious Moors Cricket Club defeated Colts CC by eight wickets to clinch the Mayor’s Trophy Cricket Championships organised by the Colombo Municipal Council last week. This six-a-side Cricket tournament was held at Nomads grounds and eight leading clubs, Colombo Club, NCC, SSC, CCC, Colts, BRC, Moors, Nomads and Bloomfield participated. Moors team led by Champika Hathurusinghe won the title, defeating Colts CC. Moors SC scored 51 for two while Colts CC were bundled out for 47. Ashan Runaweera of Moors SC won the man of the final while Asela Jayasinghe (Moors) and Jeewantha Kulatunga (Colts) won the best bowler and best batsman awards respectively. Lithuanian gets four-year doping ban LAUSANNE, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A Lithuanian swimmer has been suspended for four years after testing positive for steroids, the International Amateur Swimming Federation (FINA) said on Monday. The FinaNews monthly news letter said the Lithuanian federation had decided to suspend G.Rafanavicius for four years from June 25 for a positive doping control test result for metandienone metabolites. The semi-finals of the Invitation Schools Soccer Tournament organised by Old Boys Association for the Paul Henry Patrick Memorial Trophy will commence on November 17 at De Mazenod grounds, Kandana. In the first semi-finals Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa will confront Wesley while last year’s losing finalist, Zahira, Colombo will take on host De Mazenod, Kandana on November 19. The final of this tournament will be held on November 22. (AN) |
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