Legendary Fijian, Setefano Cakau took over the coaching duty on Sri Lankan 7’s team just before the Commonwealth 7’s games two months ago. However, he has not been back in the island since the Asian 7’s series second leg which was held early this month in Malaysia where the Tuskers ended up in 4th place.
Cakau had requested the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) for a week off due to the general elections in Fiji but he was missing out of action thus so far. Sri Lanka won the shield competition in Glasgow under Setefano at the Commonwealth games, since that Tuskers played reasonably well during the Asian 7’s series but only ended up fourth place in both the legs (Hong Kong & Malaysia). With one more leg to come in Shanghai, retaining the third ranked title is now quite impossible.
When ThePapare.com met the President of the SLRFU this evening he mentioned that “It is a disappointment for the team, we cannot replace a coach within this short period as Setefano’s name is already been registered. I think even the registered players cannot be replaced with accredits unless it is a severe injury to be replaced”. In addition to this Mr. Seneviratne stated that he is very much confident with the boys who have tremendous experience under their belt to play without a coach on this tour.
Furthermore, Mr. Seneviratne is helping out the Tuskers in training along with the experienced Rohan Chinthaka who is the team Manager. Fortunately, Mr. Seneviratne can also advice and share his experience to the boys as the role of caretaking since he is accredited as the Honorary Secretary of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU).
It was under Nilfer Ibrahim’s coaching Sri Lanka finished third last year in the Asian 7’s series; Ibrahim was axed out after the Hong Kong 7’s last March and when ThePapare.com contacted the wretched Ibrahim, he said that “SLRFU did not even bother to inform me about the coaching replacement, and it is not as to the manner of professionalism”.
