Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has cancelled a players’ health insurance cover deal which it had with Medical Aid Society of Malawi (Masm).
In 2021, the association in conjunction with the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) signed a 10-year partnership with Masm to provide medical cover for football players.
The tailor-made scheme called Econo-Sport, which was worth K18 million a year, covered 800 players from TNM Super League clubs, women’s regional leagues and national teams.
Under the deal, FAM was paying premiums totalling K9 million on behalf of the clubs and players while Masm was contributing the other part.
Each player had a maximum of K1.4 million cover a year.
However, our findings show that FAM cancelled the deal in 2023, rendering players or clubs with no capacity to have such medical cover destitute.
Football Players Association (FPA) general secretary Ernest Mangani in an interview said they are shocked with FAM’s decision.
He said: “The leadership decided that and they did not consult us, yet we are the ones that pushed for its introduction. But maybe they have good reasons which they will explain.
“Until we accept that the FPA is a key player in the industry, we should forget about good results. The players are not happy in this country and they cannot die for their country.
“This is why we at the FPA have been complaining that we are not involved in this football space. We are seen as policemen, so we are not given space to contribute to the development or transformation of the game, if you would like to put it that way. But we will keep advocating for the best for our players.”
However, FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview said they decided to suspend the medical cover in order to review it.
He said: “This is after noting that some teams have their own schemes. We would like to ensure that we give the best deal for our stakeholders and also ensure maximum utilisation.”
But Karonga United general secretary Ramzy Simwaka said FAM stopped paying for the medical cover in 2022.
He said: “FAM should not hide behind the reason that they are reviewing the medical cover. They stopped paying for the medical cover in 2022 without even informing the clubs about it.
“We did not have the medical cover in 2023 and 2024 seasons. Players were sent back at the hospital when they went to get treatment after injuries. That’s how we found out about it.”
Mangani said FAM should have first reviewed the medical cover before completely suspending it.
He said: “The best deal should have been suspending for those that have own schemes and leave the other struggling teams to enjoy the benefit.
“It’s a medical scheme. You have to pay either monthly or annually. They have not seen value in paying for it, yet we are insuring for the health of players.”
Medical cover or insurance policies provide financial protection against injuries, illnesses, or other events that may impact players’ careers.
Before the 2021deal, FAM in the past also signed medical cover deals with Masm in 2015 and 2017.
They all also ended up being suspended.
