Sports
NPFL Issues Practice Direction to Coaches, Players, and Ball Boys
…Frowns at Coaches poor dressing, Players time wasting injury simulation, Disappearance of Ball Boys
Joel Ajayi
Clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have been advised to curb a number of conduct of their Coaches, Players, and Ball Boys during fixtures of the season.
In a memo to the Clubs, titled”Regulating MatchDay Conduct of Coaches, Players and Ball Boys”, Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer reminded the clubs that relevant provisions of the NPFL Framework and Rules will be invoked to ensure that no individual or group demeaned the public perception of the league.
The memo, he noted was intended to avert the minds of leadership of all clubs to some inappropriate conduct that are tainting the league and bringing the game to disrepute.
It began by drawing attention to the dress code of Coaches, some of who the league categorized as “appearing for matches in inappropriate apparel that portray the entire league in a bad light”.
Warning that henceforth such Coaches would be charged based on relevant provisions of the rules, the NPFL appealed, “to the leadership of our Clubs to take interest in the dress codes of their Coaches who sit on the bench especially now that our games are on television”
“Football broadcast requires intentional packaging from arrival of teams to the dressing rooms, to the field, bench, and actual play. Let us join hands with our Broadcast Partners to make the league attractive to viewers at home and fans in the stadium”, the memo stated.
It raised a second issue of simulation of injury by players to hold up matches in a bid to run down the clock thereby denying fee-paying fans full value for money and time.
“Football has been accepted as big business with entertainment value and this frequent disruption robs the league games of entertainment spectacle. It does not encourage fans who have paid money and spent time to watch games”, Owumi observed and urged clubs to encourage their Coaches to adopt fair means of getting results.
The memo also frowned at the resort to hiding match balls by Ball Boys of home teams to confer undue advantage through time wasting when the ball is out of play.
“We have already mandated Match Commissioners and Independent Secret Assessors to eradicate the disappearance act of Ball Boys with balls to the advantage of home teams in the course of a match”.
It said Match Commissioners have been issued a new practice direction of ensuring that the number of Ball Boys and Balls remains the same as it was at the start of the match.
“Match Commissioners are henceforth at liberty to ask the Referee to add every minute wasted by this disreputable conduct”, Owumi disclosed, adding that, “the NPFL would not hesitate to impose appropriate sanctions on offending clubs”.
Sports
PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon Splashes Big Prize Money Ahead Of 14 November 2026 Race
Top Three Elite Finishers To Earn $8,000, $6,000 And $5,000 Respectively
The organisers of the highly anticipated PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon have announced an attractive prize package for athletes across every category ahead of the race on 14 November 2026 in Abuja.
The prize announcement has been welcomed by athletes and coaches, as the event continues to establish itself as one of the leading road races in Nigeria. The race offers local athletes the chance to compete against international runners in front of a home crowd, while also earning meaningful rewards.
In the elite category, first place earns $8,000, second place takes $6,000, third place gets $5,000, fourth place receives $4,000, fifth place goes home with $3,000, sixth place earns $2,000, seventh place takes $1,000, and eighth place gets $500.
In the Nigerian category, first place earns ₦2,000,000, second place takes ₦1,500,000, third place gets ₦1,000,000, fourth place receives ₦500,000, fifth place goes home with ₦300,000, sixth place earns ₦200,000, seventh place takes ₦100,000, and eighth place gets ₦50,000.
According to the organisers, the prize structure reflects the commitment of PremiumTrust Bank to the growth of athletics in Nigeria and to the encouragement of home based athletes. The separate Nigerian category ensures that local runners are properly recognised and rewarded for their performance.
The half marathon, which covers 21 kilometres, remains an important event for long distance runners. It serves as a test of endurance and preparation, and it provides a competitive platform for athletes building towards major national and international competitions.
The race is expected to draw elite athletes, club runners, corporate teams, fitness enthusiasts and supporters from across Nigeria and beyond. The turnout is expected to be high, given the interest already shown since registration opened.
Organisers have advised interested runners to register early through the official registration portal of the race to secure their participation, as arrangements are being put in place for timing, security, medical support and traffic management on race day.
The prize money is now confirmed, attention will shift to the athletes as they complete their final weeks of training and preparations ahead of the race day.
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