- Advises press not to disseminate canards
The Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) President Vajira Netticumara says that her association has already contacted World Netball (WN) with regard to hiring a consultant coach for the national team, ahead of the 14th Senior Asian Netball Championship in Hong Kong this August.
She asserted that they were optimistic that the sport’s global controlling body would facilitate a consultant coach in time for Sri Lanka to take an effective shot at the title, in a competition which she described as ‘quite tough’ for the island-nation.
“We (NFSL) have already written to World Netball, to recommend a foreign consultant coach,” Netticumara, a former netball player-turned businesswoman, told The Daily Morning Sports, in an interview.
“The expertise of a foreign consultant coach is of paramount importance if we are to finish within the top two. Once a coach is recommended, then we will submit her name to the Technical Committee. It is not going to be plain sailing with the likes of Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong in the fray, but at the same time I feel Sri Lanka should be able to make an impact at this upcoming competition.”
At the same time, she also dismissed claims in certain quarters that the Sports Ministry had refused to green light the enlisting of a foreign consultant coach for the national team citing the cost factor.
“Certain claims in the press had been made that the Ministry had objected to the signing of a consultant coach,” she explained.
“This is absolute baloney. All expenses for the hiring of a foreign consultant coach are taken care of by the Ministry and we as the federation do not have to foot the bill. I urge these people to write the truth and not disseminate fabrications to suit the vested interests of disgruntled people.”
The Netball Federation head stressed the national selection panel helmed by Padma Baddewela, will choose the best squad based purely on merit for the forthcoming tournament and affirmed that she has no intention of meddling in the selections.
But, at the same time she acknowledged that certain factions within the netball arena were clamouring to get certain players included in the touring squad with undue influence being exerted, which she condemned as being detrimental to the sport both in the short to long term.
“I have trust in the current selectors that the most deserving squad will be chosen for the Asian Championship,” the NFSL head remarked.
“However, I must admit that there are certain factions who are determined to get certain players selected with hardly any care for merit or based on performance. But I think the five-member selection panel, who all know their onions, will pick the most suitable 12-member team come June.”
She was of the view that factionalism was most rampant linked to coaching and umpiring fields, and assured that under her leadership she would not leave such sections to raise their ugly heads, but instead always strive for equal opportunity for all and sundry.
She mentioned that her committee will always accept constructive criticism from anyone, but asserted that they were not prepared to stay idle in the face of destructive criticism and urged all in the netball family to ditch what she termed as ‘petty differences’.
Netticumara, who only assumed her post at the election of office bearers to the ruling body held last January, following a hiatus of 19 long months expressed her gratitude to Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, for being generous with his Ministry’s support to bring about a revival of the sport here.
She added that currently the NFSL was engaged with World Netball to reclaim the membership status of Sri Lanka, after its ruling body had been defunct since May 2024 before being resuscitated three months ago.
Asked for her views of the general status of netball in this country, the outspoken president of the federation commented that Sri Lanka was not short of talent or girls with extreme height, but accepted that factionalism within the firmament if not overcome could stymie its growth.