It is the dream of every school boy sportsman to represent their school in the school colours. From the lower age groups to the most important U19’s, it is their one final goal as a school’s sportsman to give their heart out and do everything they could to achieve victory.
However the same sentiment cannot be applied for a few Maris Stella footballers, namely Maris Stella captain Anton Nadeeshan Fernando, Subashanka Fernando, Sandeepa Fernando and Dilip Suraj Peiris. All four were seen representing Don Bosco SC in the ongoing Dialog Champions League in a match against Air Force SC, a day before Maris Stella College’s important semi- final fixture against Zahira College in the Kotmale Chox U19 schools’ tournament.
Don Bosco were unlucky not to have drawn this grueling encounter as a last minute goal by Air Force won them the match 2-1 while Maris Stella College were humiliated in the first half with Zahira College scoring three goals within 7 minutes and went on to lose the match 3-1.
When questioned about this incident Maris Stella Coach Sugath Perera had this to say. “I didn’t know about this. I only got to know at the last moment before our semi -final. It was a huge mistake by the players. I don’t approve of this kind of behavior. However they only played for 10 minutes.”
Coach Sugath was proved wrong as Subashanka Fernando and Dilip Suraj Peiris started the match and went onto finish the match while Anton Fernando and Sandeepa Fernando were introduced in the second half.
Even the professional football players around the world with their elite training regimes need at least 3-4 days of recovery after a match. Playing two matches inside 24 hours is unthinkable. Are these Maris Stella players more conditioned and fit than the international players?
The level of school football and club football is vastly different. Club football demands more physical conditioning, strength and is played at a high tempo. Almost all schools tournaments only play a maximum of 30 minute halves even though the Kotmale Chox tournament plays the whole 90 minutes. School players aren’t used to playing the full 90 minute matches like the club matches hence needs longer than 3-4 days of recovery.
The lack of energy and fitness was evident in their play against Zahira with only Jeewantha Fernando giving everything he had in attack and defense. Jeewantha is the best Maris Stella player recently toured to Manchester United after being selected from the Airtel Rising Star Challenge. Afore mentioned four players along with Jeewantha are the heart and soul of the Maris Stella attack.
Subashana Fernando and Dilip Peiris Maris Stella’s main strikers missed numerous goal scoring opportunities late in the first half and in the second half as they were reduced to walking as the game went on with the drained energy showing from their faces.
Did they inform and get permission from the school administration before representing the club? Don’t they take pride in representing their school? Was money the motivating factor given by the club to the players?
Tournament rules may not have been broken but clearly school rules would include about representing outside clubs while representing the school. It is a question of ethics. No doubt experience is gained from representing clubs but there should be a limit.
ThePapare.com asked whether the school will be taking any disciplinary action against the said players and as to whether the school gave permission for the players to represent other clubs the Master in charge of sports at Maris Stella, Bro. Navinda Fernando for which there was no reply.
Is this the kind of conduct a school expects from their sportsmen? Maris Stella captain being true to the school motto showing them the way that club comes first before school. Is this the example the school expects from their senior players to show their younger sportsmen?
This is a good wakeup call for other schools and most importantly to the sportsmen of the schools.
