Ahmed Tariq, the President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), has stated that the health insurance provided by the government to national team players will be a significant relief for them.
In an interview with PSM News, Tariq noted that players previously faced extremely difficult circumstances when sustaining injuries. He specifically recalled an incident at the Galolhu National Stadium where former national team captain Imran Mohamed suffered a broken finger during a match.
Tariq highlighted that, in the past, players often felt a sense of despair and uncertainty at the moment of injury. However, the introduction of health insurance now provides them with much-needed security and assurance.
“When an injury occurs, the player is often deeply discouraged. Now, they can have the confidence and peace of mind that they are secured,” Tariq said.
He further explained that there was previously no comprehensive insurance system to cover sports-related injuries sustained on the field. Players were often forced to seek treatment independently, relying on the assistance of various individuals. Tariq also admitted that even back then, FAM lacked the substantial capacity to provide full support to injured national players.
Tariq also pointed out a recent challenging situation involving a national futsal player. He referred to the injury sustained by Ali Haafiz (Haappe) to his ankle during the AFC Asian Futsal Cup Qualifiers against Myanmar in September 2024. Both FAM and NSPA contributed to the expenses for his medical treatment.
The lack of insurance coverage has been a long-standing concern for athletes. This issue has been addressed by the administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, which initiated the provision of insurance for national teams.
Accordingly, the President has announced that starting from February 5, 2025, health insurance services are being provided to 385 players and officials across 18 national sports associations.
