THE APU TIMES

Name: S. Sujeewa Jayantha Wijayanayake

College: Asia Pacific Studies

Year: 4

Country: Sri Lanka

Profile:

Sujeewa is the Professional Baseball player who started his career in the field by joining the Sri Lankan National Baseball Pool in 2002.  Having the experience of playing in many national and international matches, he is now the Umpire of the Oita Nanshiki Baseball Association under the appointment of Japan Ameture Baseball Association and till date, he has umpired over 50 matches in Oita, and Beppu alone. In the “10^th Annual Baseball Umpiring School” which was organized by the Japan Baseball Umpiring Association on 5^th and 6^th of December of the previous year in Urawa Baseball Stadium in Saitama, Sujeewa has been awarded with “The Most Valuable Umpire of the School” for his great contribution in the field. With 5 other Japanese professionals, he happened to be the only foreigner that was awarded this honor from the pool of 157 applicants from all over Japan. By appreciating his great achievement, The APU Times had his interview for this edition by honoring him with the title ‘student of the month.’ The following is the reflection of how he shared his experiences and expectations with us all.

1. When did you start your journey of Baseball and what was the motivational force that helped you move further in this field?

Ø  I started playing baseball when I was a high school student in Ananda College, Colombo-10 in the year 1999. I should thank the coach of my high school Mr. Sanjaya Liyanapathirana and former Sri Lankan National Caoches Mr. Kazuhisa Ueda and Mr.Goshiro Ushiroda for motivating me to continue my career as the baseball player.

2. Can you briefly share the exploration of your career in the field so far?

Well, I have had the experience of being the captain of the Baseball team of my         high school in early 2002. Besides,I also used to play baseball for one of the local clubs in Sri Lanka. Later on, I was selected as the National pool player in 2002. And then, I became the Coach of Ananda College baseball team from 2002 to 2006. Then in February 2004, I was selected to go to Thailand for Baseball Coaching Camp organized by Asia Baseball Federation (BFA) where I also won the Most Valuable Player award in the Coaching Camp.  Then in August 2005, after being recognized as the National Umpire of Sri Lanka, I got an opportunity to become the official Umpire in the 6^th Asian “AAA” Baseball Championship which was held in Seoul, Korea. After coming to Japan in 2006, I was struggling hard to adopt to the Japanese environment first so I could not become much active here during my 1^st year. However, I joined the Oita Nanshiki Baseball association in my 2^nd year and since then I have been gaining new skills of team- coordination, umpiring and so on.

3. How do you feel about being the only foreigner being honored with the title of “Official Umpire” by the Japanese Amateur Baseball Association in the year 2009?

Ø  I was really proud of achieving this success, but at the same time, this achievement has added a bigger responsibility in me. The officials after the award-giving ceremony said to me “It is for amplifying the representation of Sri Lankan Baseball in tomorrow’s context” and I truly take this to my heart. After all, this has given me new hopes and challenges to strive harder for improving the standard of the Sri Lankan Baseball.

4. What do you think should APU do to attract the attention of large number of students into this game?

Ø  I think, many students have the fear that Baseball is a dangerous game. But, one should start to play it for making judgments over whether it is dangerous game or simply a game of fun. Baseball circle should try convincing students saying that good participation is better than a mere victory. For that, APU should organize some friendly matches time and again to multiply the number of interested students and improve mutual interactions between them. 

5. Have you been continuing your support for Baseball enhancement back in your country at this time when you have many other stuffs to do in your college? If yes, then how have you been contributing to the upliftment of Sri Lankan Baseball that is just in the infant stage now?

Ø  Yes, I have been doing so to help improve the situation back in Sri Lanka though it might not be that noteworthy at the moment because of my busy college life. But despite this, I have become the coordinator of the Sri Lanka Ameture Baseball/ Softball Association here in Japan at present. Further, I am in the process of widening my social network with the professionals of the field here in Japan at this time. By meeting them in person, I have been requesting them to donate Baseball equipments from here to Sri Lanka. In this vacation, most probably in the last week of February, I am planning to organize an Umpiring camp in Sri Lanka under my coordination. By realizing the fact of many players lacking proper knowledge and skills of this game back home, I have already started converting the Japanese rule book into Sinhala language. In a true sense, my heart asks me to contribute more in the days to come.

6. Already being offered a job in Kamenoi Hotel in Fukuoka, how do you think will you be able to keep a balance between your social and professional life in the days to come?

Ø  It is true that I will not be able to devote all of my time for promoting Baseball once I get into the company. But, one should remember the fact that “when there is a will, there is a way”. Baseball is in my blood and I know that I will die if I do not take in the ingredients required for the blood formation process.

7. Lastly, do you have anything to say to your supporters, motivators and well-wishers?

Ø  I have a sincere plea to make. If there is anyone who is willing to help me, then I ask him/her not to Support me, but to the advancement of Sri Lankan Baseball. It is because I have a vision to bring about changes in the conducts of Sri Lankan Baseball in 10 years time.

           APS 2011