Nigeria Content Online

Premier
League outfit, Niger Tornadoes of Minna have become the first club to
be fined by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) in the 2010/2011 season.
They were penalised after two of their goalkeepers wore unauthorised
apparels in last weekend’s 1-2 loss to Heartland in Owerri.

Instead of wearing
their team jerseys, the goalkeepers, Okiki Tawose and Timothy
Unachukwu, wore the Nigerian national team’s goalkeeping outfit,
complete with the insignia of the Nigeria Football Federation in the
encounter played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

The act is a direct
violation of the NPL’s Article 1.6 (1) of this season’s rules and
regulations, and as a result Niger Tornadoes have been fined a million
naira for deliberately infringing on the rules governing the league.

“The Nigeria
Premier League has fined Niger Tornadoes FC the sum of one million
naira only for their first and second goalkeepers for wearing national
team jerseys in a week two match involving Heartland FC Vs Niger
Tornadoes FC thereby violating Article 1.6 (1) of the rules and
regulations.

“The two Niger
Tornadoes goalkeepers are Okiki Tawose and Timothy Unachukwu,” read the
NPL statement signed by its acting executive secretary, Tunji Babalola.

In past seasons, it
was almost customary for goalkeepers, especially those who have at some
point been called up to the national team, to don such kits on match
days rather than their club colours.

But with the fine
imposed on Niger Tornadoes by the NPL it is expected that clubs will
henceforth enforce their goalkeepers to stick to club colours on match
days.

Meanwhile, the NPL has rescheduled the 10 league matches earlier billed to come up on Wednesday for this weekend.