ANDREA FERNANDES
MAPUSA: Not long ago Aneth Mascarenhas was an integral part of Panjim Footballers’ side which won the second edition of the GFA-Vedanta Women’s League. Now, the 25-year-old is struggling to even stand on her feet after suffering a career-threatening knee injury.
Aneth’s suffered the setback on October 25, 2018, during a match against FC Goa at Nagoa ground, Verna. She showed her displeasure on the treatment given to her by the club after the injury and took to social media to post about the same. Her aim behind the post was to create awareness that players are left to fend for themselves and bear their entire medical expense after they get injured.
“When I got injured there was no ambulance nor doctor present for the match. One person came on the ground, applied ice and sprayed my knee. Since he was not a doctor he did not have any idea of a knee twist injury. They sent me home without any proper medical attention,” she explained after going through surgery in April.
The Curtorim resident and her family bore the entire medical expenses which was around Rs. 1.50 lakhs. Aneth is not alone and brought out the issue to make other budding footballers aware of the treatment they can face from their clubs.
“I have a grade 3 injury, complete ligament tear. It’s been six months that I cannot even jump, run or even walk long distance. When we are playing for a club they need to take care of us when we are injured during a match. We should be insured and they should bear our medical expenses in case of an injury or surgery. During the match against FC Goa when I sustained this injury there was no ambulance or even physiotherapist present at the venue,” said Aneth in her post on social media.
It was very unfortunate that Aneth could not be part of her team, currently which made their debut in the third edition of the Indian Women’s League in Ludhiana, Punjab, on Tuesday.
“All the players are insured by GFA (Goa Football Association) and she (Aneth) could have sort help from them. Small injuries are taken care by the club. Our club could have helped her in getting operated at GMC (Goa Medical College) by the same doctors if she had approached us,” said Panjim Footballers assistant coach Anthony Vaz in his explanation.
GFA’s Vice-President from North, Lavinio Rebello, stated that the player is yet to approach the association for help. “Everybody knows that GFA has an insurance policy. Whoever approaches us we are first to open the doors and help them. Around 4,000 odd players who take part in our leagues are insured and we pay Rs 1,50,000 annually towards the insurance premium. We are not a profit making organisation and try to have safety measures in place. The maximum expenditure a player who has sustained injury can incur is Rs 25,000, but within eight days of the occurrence of injury the form has to be filled,” said Rebello, a long-serving member of the sports body.
“Every year there are three to four cases of people who claim money due to injury. Besides our insurance some clubs have a separate insurance policy for the players. We have been telling about this insurance benefit at the AGM’s and the representative from the clubs should tell their players about the same,” he added.
General Secretary of GFA, Jovito Lopes, told Herald that they want to help the player in whatever manner they can and have requested her to contact them. “Once she knew that the club did not do anything she should have come to us. If she has availed any insurance then no further insurance can be given. We told the club that they should have looked into the matter and done the needful. We have insurance for all the players playing the various leagues in Goa. Immediately following the injury within eight days they have to intimate us and we further intimate the insurance company. After getting details of the nature of injury then we work towards processing the claim. Once it is notified then the person needs to tell us what is the treatment they need then accordingly the claim is processed by the insurance,” said Lopes.
