Friday 17th February, 2012 13 International Schools Athletics Championship gets underway today

BY CHATHURA PINNAWALA (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011) Colombo International In this Monday Sept. 26, 2011 file photo, The International Schools School, Colombo, (2004) City’s Sergio Aguero, center, Athletics Championship Participating schools at ISAC 2012: shares a joke with teammate Carlos Tevez, (ISAC) 2012, is set to com- mence today, at the Mahinda Alethea International right, while Aleksandar Kolarov looks on as Rajapaksa International School, Asian International they train at Carrington training ground, Stadium in Diyagama, School, Belvoir College Manchester, England. (AP Photo/Jon Super) Homagama. It will end on International, British School Sunday. in Colombo, Burhani The mega event, organised Serendib School, College of by Lyceum International World Education, Colombo School, Nugegoda, this time International School, around, will be the 12th con- Colombo, Colombo secutive championship. International School, Kandy, Approximately 3000 athletes, Elizabeth Moir International School, Ikra International Tevez both girls and boys, in eight- Football is an emotive and emo- tional game, with many big egos. Tempers flare. But not every club allows disputes between players and managers to explode into a full-blown soap opera like this one. If Tevez’s stated desire to now has to let his feet make amends is sincere, if he apol- ogizes to Mancini and throws him- self with vigor and a smile back into work on the training ground, then the manager should take the opportunity to move on. “He has a lot of repairs to do do the talking with the fans and he realizes that and he has said that he is ready to BY JOHN LEICESTER , in the heat of providing them with a large bin anger last September, insisted that had the words “Goodbye apologize,” Tevez’s adviser, , told broadcaster Sky ot a moment too soon, Carlos would never play again for the Manchester” painted on it. Sports. Nadeeja Karunathilake (4th from left), AGM Marketing, CBL Foods Tevez appears ready to apol- leaders. But Tevez had a different story. The other reason Tevez should Nogize. It seems Manchester The first is that it was never 100 The way the Argentine tells it, he International (Pvt) Ltd., hands over the sponsorship document to City’s ostracized striker has tired percent clear just how badly Tevez was willing to play but simply did- play — even if only so City can Kumari Grero (3rd from left), Coordinating Principal, Lyceum show off his skills to potential buy- of twiddling his thumbs and play- behaved to make Mancini so furi- n’t want to warm up again when International Schools at a media briefing held in connection with ous. ers — is that he is too good not to. ing golf while frittering away mil- told. He took issue with the way ISAC 2012 at CH&FC Club, Colombo 7 on February 10. Others in lions in fines and earnings lost by Initially, Mancini said Tevez Mancini spoke. “He ordered me It’s sad for football that a player not playing. He says he wants to be refused to come on as a substitute like a dog to warm up,” Tevez with his talents is going to waste, the picture are: Frank Jayasinghe (L), Chairman, Association of a footballer again to — try not to in City’s 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich claimed this week in an interview like a sports car gathering dust or Principals of International Schools in Sri Lanka and Nilupul De a Picasso in a basement. Tevez has- laugh — “win over the fans.” in the Champions League. with Fox Sports in . Silva (2nd L), Senior Brand Manager, Ritzbury. To which the answer must be: “He refused to play,” the Italian Either way, Tevez’s behavior n’t played for City since Sept. 21. Argentina international Sergio Not so fast, Carlos. Forgiveness has said, an accusation that painted smacks of insubordination. It’s dif- School, Leeds International Aguero has been so spectacular in age group categories from 22 to be earned. Tevez as a petulant mutineer. ficult to see a world of difference School, Panadura, Leighton the meantime for City that Tevez schools are due to compete If there is to be redemption for Taking Mancini’s word as between refusing to play and not Park International School, hasn’t been missed as much as he and over 130 officials will con- Tevez, the player who has con- gospel, football administrators and wanting to warm up. Tevez com- Lyceum International School, otherwise might have been. duct the competition under tributed more than most of late to commentators lined up to deni- pounded his errors by subsequent- Nugegoda, Lyceum For Mancini, having Tevez back the rules of the Amateur give overpaid footballers a bad grate the Argentina international. ly going AWOL back to Argentina. International School, Wattala, isn’t without risk. Will other play- Athletics Association of Sri name, then he’ll need to let his feet A FIFA vice president described “I was upset by the situation and OKI International School, ers at City be happy to see him Lanka, which complies with not his mouth do the talking. Score his behavior as “despicable” and needed to be with my family,” he International Rules and Regent International College, goals. Win matches. Make City the back or could his presence be poi- said the world governing body, as said. Regulations. Royal Institute, Colombo, St. English champions for the first sonous for team morale and with drug cheats, should have the Still, Mancini perhaps could In all, 71 events will take Nicholas’ International time since 1968. Those three things Mancini’s authority, especially if power to ban him from the sport. have handled this better. The place on Day 1. School, Stafford International are the only way back for Tevez fol- Tevez is still sulky and rebellious? Former Liverpool great Graeme Italian possibly should have taken Past winners: School, Wycherley lowing his moment of madness in Has Tevez returned to Manchester Souness called Tevez a “disgrace to a few deep breaths before he vented Gateway College, Colombo, International School, Munich. Alone, saying sorry, flow- with a genuine desire to play or football” who “epitomizes what the his spleen to TV cameras, going (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, Gateway College, Colombo ers and chocolates won’t suffice. simply to pick up his paycheck? man in the street thinks is wrong public with a problem that maybe 2008) and Gateway College, Kandy. There are two good reasons why Tevez’s behavior in Munich tested with modern footballers.” could have been handled in the Lyceum International City should offer a second chance Mancini’s man-management; his Bookmakers Betfair encouraged dressing room. School, Wattala, to the player whom manager fans to ditch their Tevez shirts by return will, too. Sri Lanka Schools shock favourites Mercantile Services Sri Lanka Schools sprang Colombo beat Sri Lanka spirited SL Air Force side. teeth. a surprise by beating the fan- Army by 68-52. Colombo never In two more matches Mercantile Services had cied Mercantile Services 76-51 relinquished the narrow lead worked off at SL Air Force the final say in their match in a Senior National they had at half time at 32-26 courts on Wednesday, against SL Navy as they won Basketball tournament match and Harsha Yasarathne (18 Hambantota piped SL Air the contest 52-48. Anjalee played at Air Force courts, points) and Jagath Bandara’s Force 50-48 in another nail Ekanayake’s 16 points and Colombo 7 to set the tone for (15 points) combined efforts biter with Thivanka Perera Kumarine Silva’s 10 points an unpredictable tournament were enough to carry them to top scoring with 21 for the guided the victors while yesterday. victory. Dilan Sampath’s lone winners. Diluk Fernando’s 16 Premila Fernando (16 points) SL schools led by 18 points rearguard of 28 points was in kept the game at bay for long and Solangi Gunawijaya (14 at half time as the score read vain as the collective attitude periods, but ultimately points) put in a great shift to 36-18 and Praneeth of Colombo shone through. Hambantota were able to take the game to the wire. Udumalagala was the main In the same venue SL hang on by the skin of their (CP) contributor for the winners’ Schools edged a thriller over as he scored 32 points. Sudesh SL Air Force 64-62 with Ahamed provided ideal back Swaire Fernando’s haul of up with 20 points while 22 points overcoming Erandi Roshan Fernando chipped in Gallage’s 20. SL Air Force 14 points for the vanquished was in the lead 28-26 at half Mercantile outfit. time, but with Fernando fir- In the match played on ing and Natasha Perera (15 Wednesday at St.Joseph’s girl points) providing able sup- school courts, Nugegoda, port they were able to beat a