The management of the Dominica Football Association (DFA) has donated $8,000 to two former national footballers with health challenges. A cheque of $6,000 was presented to Irvin Augustine who is suffering from cancer, and $2,000 was given to Judah Xavier to fully recover from an auto accident he had in October 2021.
The players played for Pointe Michel Football Club. While Augustine is battling to meet the medical expenses for his cancer condition, Xavier was in a coma for three weeks following the accident and still experiences significant pain in one of his eyes.
The cheque was presented by DFA President Glen Etienne. He said he is pained to hear of the medical conditions of the former players, and noted that the DFA is concerned about the welfare of all local and professional players in the country.
As a football association, our concerns are not only about football, we take a comprehensive approach and are very much concerned about the welfare of our players and the football family.
Glen Etienne, DFA President
He also urged well-to-do individuals and businesses to rise up to the needs of the players as part of their social responsibility mandate. He said it is important to give to individuals who have served the nation in one capacity or the other – especially when they suffer terrible health challenges – since this demonstrates to communities and stakeholders that businesses care.
Augustine thanked the executives of the DFA for their kind gesture, noting that he has been afflicted with cancer for seven years. He said he does chemotherapy every two weeks and this treatment is eating deep into his family finances. He added that the donation extended to him will help greatly in his treatment.
Xavier also thanked the DFA for their monetary help, saying it would help with his medical treatment.
I want to say thank you to the DFA for this help, it will do me well in my recovery, I have serious problems in seeing in one of my eyes and so this money will surely assist me in my medical expenses, thank you very much DFA.
Judah Xavier
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