With the outbreak of the Covid-19 several coaches involved in various sports had to run to from pillar to post to find solutions for their issues mainly for their monthly wages in the last four months, where neither their respective clubs nor the schools came into their rescue, until the Ministry of Education (MOE) had to intervene to rescue them with a circular issued to their 24th June to all stakeholders to grant their salaries without any reduction.
Daily News contacted one of the Rugby legends and senior Rugby coach Sanath Martis who is involved in coaching Clubs and schools with an experience of over three decades, to get an overview as to how matters could be sorted out while being geared up to face any future issues of this nature. According to Martis, some students who are schooling are less focussed on education, but they have immense talent in sporting activities.
These students and their parents are eagerly awaiting the resumption of the schools rugby season followed by the club rugby season for them to participate. By playing they have a big expectation of reaching the top level including representing the country one day. To achieve this the coach has to play a pivotal role in moulding them not only with the game but also making them disciplined , which has a major impact on their career.
The players who represented their Colleges for the last season are very particular about the disrupted schools tournament where they think they might lose their sports colours and championship, which helps them in
their future endeavors including the job opportunities.
The school's should look positively with regard to the coaches where both parties should not be affected with a win win situation. With the respected world sports governing bodies instructions along with the Ministry of Health (MOH) stipulated guidelines here; all sporting activities could restart at the schools and club levels. In the rugby arena the World Rugby (WC) has clearly forwarded the guidelines on “return to
play” by restarting the games without any further issues to keep the game moving. Hence the schools and clubs respective of all sports should give more attention and prioritize to take care of their respective coaches in order to harness disciplined personalities from the sports arena. On the other hand these schools and Clubs are very particular about these coaches at the time of their recruitment, whether they are capable of delivering the expected results.
“I know personally that some schools and clubs have honoured their coaches payments in full whereas some of them have deducted a certain percentage before paying while some have totally ignored making any sought of payments. Some of the Schools and Clubs are facing huge financial problems due to the corona virus whereas the sponsors are reluctant to release the funds.
Due to this they will have to make alternative measures to overcome these situations and to raise funds to look after these coaches. Some of the coaches are really struggling to make a living and to look after their families without any revenue depending only on this salary. All these employers should look for a win win situation where both parties are benefitted” said Martis
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