Sri Lanka’s Grassroots Football Struggles Highlighted Amid Regional Successes

While neighboring nations celebrated their grassroots football achievements at the AFC Annual Awards 2023, Sri Lanka’s absence from the accolades underscored the challenges the country faces in football development. The awards, held at the Grand Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University in Seoul, showcased exemplary contributions to grassroots football from Australia, India, and Vietnam, each recognized for their impressive, wide-reaching initiatives.

In contrast, Sri Lanka’s football scene remains beleaguered. Despite electing a new Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) committee in September 2023, the country has seen little progress in grassroots or technical program implementation. The FFSL did organize a “D” License coaching course, yet the lack of tournaments and competitive opportunities leaves newly certified coaches without practical experience.

While the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) “Blue Cubs” initiative targets 35 million children by 2026 and Vietnam’s Football Federation (VFF) continues to grow participation through initiatives like “Football for All,” Sri Lanka is still struggling to create sustainable programs. The contrast is especially stark given the strides taken by neighboring countries, raising concerns among local football stakeholders about Sri Lanka’s diminishing presence in the regional football landscape.

As the nation watches other countries reap the rewards of comprehensive football strategies, there is a growing call within Sri Lanka for FFSL to not only invest in coaching and certification but to also introduce competitive platforms that will give players, especially youth, the opportunity to develop their skills.