Editors PickNational Sports

Blame game on medical scheme

 

Blame game has ensured between stakeholders on who is responsible for the delay in rolling out Super League players’ medical scheme.

Medical Aid Society of Malawi (Masm) has faulted Super League of Malawi (Sulom) for failing to fund players’ medical cover, a development which has derailed the scheme’s implementation.

Masm chief executive officer Sydney Chikoti said some clubs filled the clients’ forms sometime back.

Silver Strikers already through with the medical scheme paperwork
Silver Strikers already through with the medical scheme paperwork

However, he said that Masm could not activate the memberships because Sulom is not remitting the K54 000 ($86) monthly contribution.

“About six teams have submitted the signed forms and pictures of their players and officials. This signaled a good start. However, Sulom officials are the ones delaying the whole process,” Chikoti said.

Among the clubs that have done the paperwork are Azam Tigers, Silver Strikers, Mzuni and Big Bullets.

Meanwhile, Chikoti says the agreement with Sulom did not have a deadline.

“We didn’t put any time limit in as far as the start of the implementation is concerned.”

“The ball is in Sulom’s court. Whenever they want to enforce the scheme, they will come to us and pay the premiums,” added Chikoti.

Reacting to the Masm assertions, Sulom secretary general Williams Banda said he was not aware that some clubs had submitted the forms.

“The problem is that the forms did not pass through us,” he said. “What I can promise now is that we will follow up with the committed clubs so that we can press for their monthly payment.”

The signing of contract between Sulom and Masm in April this year coincided with the death of Bullets player Douglas Chirambo, who failed to raise funds to undergo brain tumour surgery abroad.

The medical scheme covers a maximum of 30 individuals per club and it targets football related injuries sustained on the pitch and other ailments.

The cover is mandatory to all the teams participating in the Super League.

Meanwhile, Sulom has unveiled plans to intensify awareness so that all the clubs subscribe to the scheme. n

Related Articles

Back to top button