The St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) has taken a significant step in enhancing player welfare with the establishment of a Player Endowment Fund. The announcement was made recently by SKNFA 1st Vice President Shawn White at a press conference held at the NBGC Technical Centre.

As part of this initiative, the SKNFA has committed a base contribution of EC$5,000 for each Premier Division club, with clubs having the opportunity to supplement these funds. The financial support for the endowment fund is sourced from a portion of the sponsorship provided by the National Bank Group of Companies, the SKNFA’s main sponsor.

“So one of the things we really discussed is that part of that sponsorship can go into an endowment fund, and that endowment fund would allow the clubs now to pass down to the players a stipend,” White explained.

The Player Endowment Fund, at this stage, will be exclusive to clubs in the Premier Division. “I mean, there's 10 clubs in the Premier. It's only the Premier (League clubs) because National Bank is the Premier sponsor, and we've spoken about them facilitating the fund,” White stated.

According to White, the money will be placed into an escrow account for the clubs, ensuring direct stipend payments to the players. However, details on the frequency of these payments are yet to be determined, as discussions with clubs are ongoing.

“We haven't really worked out those details as yet because, you know, on every roster, there's about 25-30 players. So those are the intricacies we have to work out, but the actual establishment of the fund is the most critical part, and then we can work out the finer details,” White added.

Through the creation of the Player Endowment Fund, the SKNFA, in collaboration with its member clubs, continues to fulfill its mission of supporting players and fostering their development within the sport.