Pata
05-26-2007, 09:54 PM
Sri Lanka’s cricket coach Tom Moody left the island yesterday afternoon to take over a new coaching position with Western Australia. The former Australian all-rounder, who coached Sri Lanka for two years, speaking to ‘The Island’ said that he was leaving with happy memories.
"These two years have been a very enjoyable period of my life. We worked hard as a unit and reaching the final of the World Cup was the result of all the hard work that we put in. I am certainly leaving Colombo with a lot of happy memories," Moody told ‘The Island’ just before he left his Cinnamon Grand luxury apartment.
"Leaving Sri Lanka has not been an easy decision. It’s been very tough, but I had to make that decision because of my family," Moody added.
"Now I am looking forward to the new role in Perth. The state has not won any title in recent times. Furthermore, there are fresh challenges which I have to face. My family will be moving to Perth from England and it’ll be great to spend time with the kids again after constant travelling during the last two years," Moody surmised.
"I will be certainly interested if there are any opportunities in the future. I have enjoyed working with the Sri Lankan board, and it’s been a great experience. If the board wants my assistance even in the near future, like for instance for me to take a look at a few players here or for some guys to come over there, I will be only too willing to assist," Moody stressed.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket hosted a ceremony to felicitate the outgoing coach and the manager, Michael Tissera, at the board headquarters on Thursday. The event, which was not open to the media, was attended by all players of the national squad, except the three players doing county duties and board officials.
Interim Committee Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa thanked the coach during the ceremony and had handed him a token of appreciation for his services to Sri Lanka’s cricket at the end of the ceremony, a SLC source told ‘The Island’.
"These two years have been a very enjoyable period of my life. We worked hard as a unit and reaching the final of the World Cup was the result of all the hard work that we put in. I am certainly leaving Colombo with a lot of happy memories," Moody told ‘The Island’ just before he left his Cinnamon Grand luxury apartment.
"Leaving Sri Lanka has not been an easy decision. It’s been very tough, but I had to make that decision because of my family," Moody added.
"Now I am looking forward to the new role in Perth. The state has not won any title in recent times. Furthermore, there are fresh challenges which I have to face. My family will be moving to Perth from England and it’ll be great to spend time with the kids again after constant travelling during the last two years," Moody surmised.
"I will be certainly interested if there are any opportunities in the future. I have enjoyed working with the Sri Lankan board, and it’s been a great experience. If the board wants my assistance even in the near future, like for instance for me to take a look at a few players here or for some guys to come over there, I will be only too willing to assist," Moody stressed.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket hosted a ceremony to felicitate the outgoing coach and the manager, Michael Tissera, at the board headquarters on Thursday. The event, which was not open to the media, was attended by all players of the national squad, except the three players doing county duties and board officials.
Interim Committee Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa thanked the coach during the ceremony and had handed him a token of appreciation for his services to Sri Lanka’s cricket at the end of the ceremony, a SLC source told ‘The Island’.