St. Michael’s basketball from bad to worse

by Rex Clementine 

Time was when St. Michael’s College, Batticaloa stormed through basketball championships winning various age group competitions with ease.

Things have changed fast in the present day. Leave alone playing in the premier ‘A’ Division, the Michaelmen are struggling to make an impact in the ‘C’ Division, the lowest division in schools basketball. The sport that was like a religion for so many kids in the Eastern Province has come to a standstill sadly.

St. Michael’s had been in steady decline and it didn’t help that the school went on and appointed Physical Trainers to coach the basketball teams leading a basketball stronghold from bad to worse.

There was a revolt from the players forcing the education department to transfer the Physical Trainers, but very little progress has been made since then with the school authorities unwilling to appoint a qualified coach. Eastern province political heavyweights seem to be halting the smooth transition and much-needed progress in the game.

The old boys of St. Michael’s College have come forward to end the status quo. Going a step further, they have expressed their willingness to fund the recruitment of a qualified coach on a long-term basis to bring back the glory days of the school in basketball. But school authorities seem to be working at a snail’s pace to achieve progress.

Fr. Hebert must be spinning in his grave.