- A fallacy to create bad precedence?
- Team to depart for region’s foremost netball event
Sri Lanka netball team head coach Somitha de Alwis is nonplussed as to why the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) is insisting on the retention of an injury-plagued 18-year-old schoolgirl in the tour squad to Hong Kong, shortly.
Sri Lanka is due to leave Colombo on today (5) for the 14th Asian Netball Championships taking place from 8-15 August, with the winners and runners-up of the tournament set to book their berths at the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia next year.
When contacted de Alwis stated that she is puzzled as to why the NFSL has decided to accommodate an injured player in the tour squad, and revealed that this was the first time in her career that she had witnessed such a scenario.
“I have not seen anything like this in my netball career,” she told The Daily Morning Sports. “It's beyond me as to the purpose of taking this particular player, if she can’t be of any use to the team’s cause. Only the NFSL can resolve this mystery, and I prefer to leave it at that.” Efforts made to contact an official from the NFSL proved unsuccessful.
Dr Lal Ekanayake the head of the Sports Medicine Unit also agreed with the sentiments expressed by de Alwis.
He maintained that all responsible officials from the Sports Ministry including the Minister himself, had been informed of the fallacy in taking an injured player on tour, and warned if not rectified it could set a bad precedent for the sporting sphere in this country.
The raging controversy surrounding the player concerned centred on a recent deadlock and allegations of undue influence between de Alwis, and the national selection committee.
The head coach had strongly opposed the player’s inclusion in the final 12-member squad, with her having publicly sought a midfield player instead, arguing that tactical squad composition was crucial to mould a winning team for the 11-team event.
However, the selection committee, chaired by Padma Beddawela, adamantly had refused to omit the 18-year-old schoolgirl from Maliyadeva Girls’ School, Kurunegala.
The selectors concerted stance had been that at 6-foot-2, the player is the second-tallest player in the Thishala Algama-led squad, and hence represents the very future of Sri Lankan netball.
Subsequently the selection panel lodged an official complaint with the Ex-Co of the NFSL, claiming that the head coach had exerted ‘undue pressure’ and uncalled for interference to discard the schoolgirl and another player.
Adding fuel to the fire, reports emerged from stakeholders alleging that the player was carrying a hidden leg injury sustained during the final selection trials.
Critics claimed that she had missed training sessions using excuses like minor illnesses to mask her lack of fitness.
The crisis afterwards reached the corridors of the Ministry of Sports and National Sports Council chaired by Priyantha Ekanayake.
A probe was undertaken, forcing all national squad players to undergo emergency medical examinations at the Sports Medicine Institute to verify their tournament fitness levels.
Eventually, the selection committee stood their ground and unanimously retained the player in question in the official 12-member squad.
Coach de Alwis later conceded to the decision, insisting that notwithstanding her initial tactical preference, her focus since then, had shifted to preparing the selected team to win the looming Championship in Hong Kong.
Six top-tier teams namely Hong Kong China (host), Singapore (reigning champions), Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India and the Maldives, are due to compete for the Championship title with two qualification slots from Asia, available for the game’s showpiece event in 2027.
Thailand, Japan, Pakistan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea, are slated to vie for honours in the second-tier Plate Division.
Sri Lanka-the six-time champions last won the Championship title in 2022, beating host nation Singapore with the outfit led by Gayanjali Amarawansa-who is also a member of the current squad. The Sri Lanka team is due to flyout to Hong Kong China on Wednesday (5).
The Sri Lanka 12-member tour squad
Thishala Algama (Capt.), Dulangi Wannithilaka, Thumalka Ekanayake, Bashi Udagedara, Rashmi Perera, Gayanjali Amarawansa, Thilini Wattegedara, Nisha Rajaguru, Gayani Dissanayake, Malmi Hettiarachchi, Thimi Wasanthaptiya and Anjalika Thilakaratne
Standbys - Samindi Rasangi, Hasini Ishara, Rukshala Hapuarachchi
Support staff - Somitha de Alwis (coach), Kumarihamy Tennakoon (Manager), Damayanthi Jayathilaka (Operations Manager), Damayanthi Hewage (Masseur), Dr Lal Ekanayake (Team Doctor)
Sri Lanka’s Preliminary Match schedule
8 August: Hong Kong China vs Sri Lanka (2.30 p.m. SLT)
9 August: Singapore vs Sri Lanka (5 p.m. SLT)
10 August: Malaysia vs Sri Lanka (5 p.m. SLT)
11 August: India vs Sri Lanka (3 p.m. SLT)
12 August: Maldives vs Sri Lanka (3 p.m. SLT)