Clubs’ medical scheme misses deadline again
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has pushed to domestic footballers the responsibility of ensuring that their respective clubs comply with the medical insurance cover scheme which has failed to roll out as expected on May 1 2015.
Sulom treasurer Tiya Somba-Banda on Tuesday said only five teams—Silver Strikers, Civo United, Azam Tigers, Mzuni and Surestream—out of 15 Super League teams had complied by filling forms and having their respective players under medicals.
“Our mandate is to ensure that we have created the environment and the process for the scheme. If players are not pushing their clubs, then they should not blame Sulom. It is their lives that are at risk. The scheme is not mandatory. It will only become such once we hold a constitutional review,” Somba-Banda said.
The death of Big Bullets left back Douglas Chirambo on April 5 fast-tracked the scheme as Sulom signed a one-year contract with the Medical Aid Society of Malawi (Masm). During the burial ceremony of late Chirambo in Rumphi District, Bullets captain Fischer Kondowe vowed not to play unless there is medical cover.
“I filled my forms and submitted them to our officials. If the scheme fails, then we are to blame. We are not serious with our lives. May be we are so used playing at risk. It’s so sad,” Kondowe said yesterday.
Tigers chairperson Sydney Chikoti, speaking as Masm chief executive officer, said while they signed the year-long contract with Sulom, it will only come into effect once the forms are submitted.
However, when he spoke as a Tigers official, Chikoti slammed Sulom for holding on to the forms on the excuse that some teams have not complied. Tigers, he said, were contemplating going it alone in insuring the players.
“That’s a big excuse by Sulom. This is on team-by-team basis. We needed to move on this. If our players get injured, I will expect the players to access the medical cover as we did our part in submitting to Sulom all requirements,” Chikoti argued.
Contacted again, Somba-Banda yesterday said since the waiting was over they would proceed with the scheme on teams that have submitted forms.
Sulom signed an agreement with Masm that covers “a maximum of 30 individuals per team. This entails that a club can choose to cover players or the technical personnel as long as it doesn’t exceed the maximum number of 30. The cover includes football related injuries sustained on the pitch amongst other ailments.”
“The cover will be per year/season and the premiums will be paid as such. Each team will be required to pay K54 000 per month through Sulom. All your registered players will be required to go under a medical test at any nearest Masm clinic whereby the Masm clinician will certify and sign on the medical form,” Somba Banda wrote in an earlier statement.
