Sri Lankan fan Anoja Basnayaka wants to start a full-time academy in the name of the Portugal player and already has a club named after him in Sri Lanka
Anoja Basnayaka points to her forearm inked with a Cristiano Ronaldo tattoo.
Photo Credits: The Goan
DOHA, QATAR
A Cristiano Ronaldo tattoo on her forearm, a youth football development club in the name of the Portugal player and a lifelong wish to meet the football hero in person, are a few things which a die-hard football fan, Anoja Basnayaka, has her on mind ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Having bought group match tickets for the football showpiece, Anoja is hoping that she will get a chance to get close and shake hands or take a selfie with her superhero. “I want to meet him before I die,” said Anoja, who hails from North West Province, who moved to Dubai after her higher studies and has been based in Qatar for the last four years.
She was elated to have a quick glimpse of Ronaldo in the team bus when it moved into the Al Samriya Autograph Collection Hotel on Friday night. “Not only did I get to see Ronaldo but I managed to see him waving out to the crowd from the bus. It was such a terrific moment; it was like he was waving out only to me,” said the Qatar-based football fan.
Anoja wants to start a full-time academy in the name of Ronaldo and already has a club named after him. “I opened CR7 Fans Club - Sri Lanka in my country which is the first Cristiano Ronaldo fan club in Sri Lanka. I want to open an academy for kids, who don’t have facilities for football in my country. This is a long-term project. I need support from our government too,” she said.“Before Cristiano, I was a David Beckham fan watching Manchester United games. That’s how I saw CR7, ever since I’m his fan and it will be forever.
“I have worked in several professions like nursery teacher and digital media. In Doha, I work as a freelancer. I am also a social media influencer and I maintain a Facebook page dedicated to sports and run a sports website.”
With so many football and charitable causes she is championing, Anoja is left with barely a few Qatari riyals in her hand at the end of the month but giving till its hurts is her principle. She spends most of her salary on funding the football dreams of the young Sri Lankan boys.
"Yes, the reason I am helping as much as I can is because I think that football in my country should progress like other countries in Asia. There are no professional players in my country. There is no system for that. The administration should pay more attention to the game. There are children in many schools and villages who are fond of football. But they don't have the necessary facilities and equipment," Anoja said.
The Lankan is looking for more funding and sponsors to take it to another level. “I am looking for sponsors and help for this to go further. I can't do it by myself. Sometimes there are a few friends from overseas helping me. I have done many motivation, and encouragement programmes for our national players with the help of my friends.”
Talking about the Ronaldo tattoo on her forearm, Anoja said: “I did it here in Qatar 2020 and a man from Nepal engraved it for me.”
On her vision for Sri Lankan football, Anoja says, “Like other Asian countries, I want my country to develop in Asia through football and Sri Lankan players to become professional players. I would like to try my best to support the development of school football too.”
