Take insurance for players on national duty — Fuz

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) has urged Zifa to protect players from injury while on duty during national teams by signing them up for insurance.

FUZ president, Desmond Maringwa said while under Fifa regulations it is the obligations of clubs to take care of injuries sustained by players on national duty, player insurance would go a long way towards reducing friction between clubs and their players when they return injured from national duty.

Speaking on the backdrop of the case of former Warriors’ striker, Musa Mguni, who is starring at a life ban in football after he found himself entangled in contractual disputes with Russian side, FC Terek Grozny, Maringwa said clubs feel frustrated after a player has been injured while turning out for his national side and is unable to play for them when they would be paying huge sums to the player.

“Clubs would naturally want maximum value from players whom they would be paying high salaries hence these frustrations can lead to friction between players and club. Having to pay for medical expenses on top of the salaries is something teams frown upon. I think national associations should take up insurance against injury for players so they are able to cover their medical expenses in case of injury,” he said.

Maringwa said in the current scenario only financial contracts are availed for players when they are called for national team assignments and nothing to do with injury is agreed to. Mguni’s woes began when he was injured when during duty for the national team in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier first round match against Burundi in Bujumbura on 29 February 2012, which the Warriors lost 2-1.

Grozny officials were frustrated by his inability to play and he was sidelined for nine months, a period which saw them review his salary and signing on fees which led to a contractual dispute that resulted in the Fifa Dispute Resolution Chamber ordering the former Motor Action player to reimburse the club $900 000 for illegally terminating his contract.

The Fifa Dispute Resolution Chamber has referred his case to the Disciplinary Committee which will make a ruling on 31 January.

Commenting on the Mguni case, Maringwa said it was unfortunate they were only alerted of the case when it was in the hands of Fifa and there was little they could do to assist the player.

Zifa communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela said it was the football mother body’s duty to assist players injured during national duty. He said he could not comment on Mguni’s case as it was already in the hands of Fifa and as Zifa they could not get involved at this stage.