Beleaguered Sports Minister Faiszer Mushtapha may be having his plate full or bitten off more than he can chew, but it seems he’s got a huge appetite for ‘problem solving’ with his latest episode trying to upset the apple cart at Sri Lanka Rugby.
Early this week he met representatives from two clubs Kandy SC and CH and FC who wanted him to intervene and persuade Sri Lanka Rugby to change a policy decision taken to have a foreign player in four lower rung clubs for the upcoming season.
But the Sunday Observer learns that Minister Mushtapha’s move to shift the goal posts to please the politically patronized Kandy SC and CH and FC clubs had come to a screeching halt when a powerful official at Sri Lanka Rugby with international clout had told him off in no uncertain terms that they will not go against a policy ruling approved by its high-powered Council.
It is understood the official had even warned the Minister he could find himself in more trouble than he is presently in with regard to Sri Lanka Cricket if he interferes with a policy decision taken by Sri Lanka Rugby which is the only body in the country recognised by World Rugby.
The Sunday Observer learns that Kandy SC which is the most politicised sports club in the country and CH and FC are also attempting to rope in some side-kick clubs like Police SC, Army SC and Air Force SC to pressurise Minister Mushtapha into a conflict with rugby.
Sri Lanka Rugby last month took a firm decision to create a level-playing field by introducing a foreign professional into four of the eight lower rung teams to bring back a lost spectator following to the satisfaction of their commercial partners who have pumped in more than Rs.75 million to resurrect a new season.
Analysts are baffled why Kandy SC who have being champs for 20 years are running scared of just a solitary foreign player.