
The football Federation has taken a decision to appoint Nizam Rumy Packeer Ali and Sunil Senaweera as National Coach and Manager for national teams. Their appointments were made on a permanent basis for an unspecified period of time said the President of the FFSL Anura de Silva at a Media briefing held at the Football House Auditorium on Thursday.
Addressing the media president said that the decision was arrived after many discussions with the Exicutive Committee. In the past decade our national team has failed to live up to expectations though we had hired many foreign coaches but was never able to achieve success. Whenever the team fails it was a practice to change coaches expecting good results but these attempts have been fruitless.
As we are adopting a long term plan to bring the national team to a higher it became a must for us appoint a permanent coach and a Manger to be in charge of our national teams, said the President. At one time Sri Lankan Football was highly praised by our local fans as it was a game which was
treated as their game. But this trend naturally went away from the fans football played here was not up to expectations for fans. The humiliating defeats suffered by our national team at international tournaments became the main drawback for our soccer fans, he added. With these setbacks sponsors too were reluctant to come forward to support the sport. However the FFSL managed to conduct man tournaments with the support of few Business organizations, said de Silva. The Committee at discussions thought it fitting to get the services of a local Coach with the highest knowledge of Football.
This vision became a reality when Nizam Rumy Packeer Ali returned to the country few months back. As Soccer history is at the highest level as Natioanl Player, qualified FIFA Coach gave us the idea to approach him to ask him to take over the position of National coach.
Packeer Ali as a true Sri Lankan patriot willingly agreed to take over the team minus any hesitation and the Committee unanimously took steps to appoint him as the national coach, said de Silva.
Packer Ali who has vast experience as a player in the national team qualified himself as FIFA coach and took wing to Bangladesh to be the coach of the Abahni SC the leading tem in That country. With his coaching Abahani SC reached the top in Bangladesh Champinships.
This success was highly accepted by the Bangladeshi Clubs and he got the opportunity of coaching many other Clubs.
While holding these positions he was able to qualify as an AFC ‘A’ License Coach which paved the way for him to be the National Youth team Coach of Bangladesh. He held this position from 2003 to 2007. Later he served the FFSL as the Technical Director from 20012 to 2014. With his experience and the knowledge of the game we expect Sri Lanka football to greater heights in the coming years said de Silva.
De Silva also said that Sunil Senaweera too is a person with a vast knowledge of football and it administration. Senaweera was a player,coach, FIFA referee, FIFA Referee Assesor and a FIFA accredited Match Commissioner. He also held the post of General Secretary of the FFSL in 2003 and 2004.
Nizam Rumy PackeerAli speaking after taking over position of National Coach said that “this is my country it is my duty to serve the country in whatever possible way”. During my playing days it was the fans who encouraged us, they come in large numbers to cheer their teams and this
became an encouragement for players to come out with all their skills to thrill the fans.
In the recent past I noticed that Sri Lankan Football at its lowest level to placed in the 200th position in the world rankings. Our local fans too are aware of this status. My taking over of team is not something that is set do everything to bring them to the top in quick time. It has to be done according to plan said Packeer Ali.
I will do my best to see that the national team first to get closer to the Asian level in few years time which coul be of great importance to go up in the world rankings. I need the support from all involved in the sport in Sri Lanka. If this is done fans too will be encouraged and players in
return will have to perform at their best to play the game to attract them and get the attention from all corners said Packeer Ali.
Sunil Senaweera the national team Manager said that in the past managers were appointed every now and then which never brought in discipline to the team members. With a manger being appointed to be the manager for the team on a permanent basis is sure to maintain the most required discipline towards the teams of all age Groups said Senaweera.