NAIROBI, Kenya, March 20- The fortunes of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) leaders AFC Leopards continued soaring after the club received medical insurance cover for its players worth Sh18m.
The ground breaking deal saw Ingwe enter into agreement with AAR Kenya Limited in a package that saw the 12-time league titleholders become the first local league outfit to enjoy such privilege.
“Individual players and the technical team members will each receive comprehensive cover for both in patient and outpatient services in Kenya,” explained Pamela Oluta, the Mumias Sugar Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager during the presentation ceremony at the Moi Forces Academy.
The scheme will also include road emergency assistance and air evacuation and is pegged at Sh3m for each player in Ingwe’s roster.
An elated chairman Alex Ole Magelo praised their title sponsors Mumias Sugar for the positive development that is expected to boost the morale of the players who are currently perched at the helm of the premier league.
“This cover will give peace of mind to our players who will now be able to concentrate on the pitch without worry of the consequences in case of injury or illness.”
He called upon other team sponsors to emulate the move and help improve the conditions of players which he says will greatly improve the standards of the league with more input expected from the players.
AAR Regional Sales Manager Julius Majuek said the cover that includes free medical check ups as well as optical and dental services and will run for a period of one year that he hopes that the club’s sponsors will seek an extension after its expiry.
“AAR is proud to be associated AFC which is one of the top clubs in the country in this first of a kind medical cover”, stressed Majuek during the event.
The insurance cover comes in the wake of chaos that rocked the AFC – Gor Mahia derby on Sunday that saw hosting K’Ogalo bitter fans protest a referee decision and engage in acts of hooliganism endangering the safety of the visiting AFC players. Speaking on behalf of the players’ assistant captain Salim Kinje thanked their sponsors for looking into their welfare and promised that they will continue giving their best performance in their league fixtures.