Sunday Times E-Paper

Jaswar Umar, current president

"Currently, football in Sri Lanka is in a very bad shape. We are last in Asia and almost last in international rankings. Our administrative and the football structure is a very outdated one. So, the current system is not suiting our region or international standard."

"So we have got a action plan. On one side we are trying to establish the top tier tournament, as our professional tournament. We are missing the professional footballers in Sri Lanka. We have created the Super League with 10 top teams licensed them to be in private entities and then we are playing the Super League."

"On the lower range, we are going to restart football in all villages across the country. That includes the schools also. We are increasing our competition through regional and district competition, which was missing. The competitions are important parts. We didn't have a national policy. We are trying to build a competition structure and a national policy on competitions."

"On the other side, there is a massive administrative reform taking place, with a professional structure and a new constitution. And a new way of administrative system with digitalization. We are now shaping up our administration for the next generation."

"We have also empowered building the capacity of our national team. All players are being transformed into the professionals and being paid the biggest salaries and contracts to exclusively dedicate themselves to play football."

"And then for each and every player, there will be a career pathway upward, towards the national team. They can reach the national pool. Then everybody knows the selection policy."

"On the top of that we are creating a Junior National Football Academy for the kids from 6-12 years can be trained in a scientific way and in a proper methodical by the foreign coaches."

"We are creating social and recreational football, like mini games, which will be played all over the country day and night. The strategy is being drafted now for the women's football as well. We will also see a lot of strategies and activities are taking place for women's football very soon."

SPORTS

en-lk

2021-08-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytimes.pressreader.com/article/282097754747087

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