SKNFA introduces sports injury insurance for footballers

Basseterre, St. Kitts (14th September 2015) – As the new football season is just weeks away, the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) is implementing, for the first time in the federation, a Sports Injury Insurance Program.

According to Stanley Jacobs, the general secretary of SKNFA, it is a logical development in the sport, and it is one that will help build the professionalism of football in the federation.
The plan is to implement the program in stages, starting with the top tier tournament players.

Jacobs said, “Starting in the Premier Division, it will be mandatory, effective this season, that all players must have the sports injury insurance. This is very important, because it ensures that there is some mechanism in place in the event that a player gets injured on the field of play.”

The insurance coverage will be optional for Division One players, but Jacobs notified that by the 2016-2017 football season, it will be mandatory for all players. Players have access to the Sports Injury Insurance by application to National Caribbean Insurance (NCI), where a special rate was worked out for players. The failure of a player to take out the insurance means that player will not be able to participate in the Premier Division matches this season.

Jacobs said all players should take the matter seriously, because it is for their benefit. “We have seen over the years a number of players get injured but don’t have the financial means, especially if it involves travelling overseas to seek surgery, so we moved to put this mechanism in place to ensure the players have some insurance policy in place for injuries on the field of play,” Jacobs informed.

For further information, contact:
Stanley Jacobs
General Secretary
St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association
Tel: 869-466-2998
E-Mail: info@sknfa.com