The Scourge of Arbitrary Sacking Of Coaches In The NPFL
2 min read
By Sportsgister
The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) continues to battle credibility issues, and one recurring blot on its reputation is the arbitrary dismissal of coaches without adherence to contractual agreements.
The latest example came earlier this week when Warri Wolves announced the suspension of head coach Aluma Napoleon after a string of poor results.
Napoleon, who started brightly with two straight victories, suddenly found himself jobless after four winless games—culminating in a defeat to Shooting Stars.
While clubs may cite performance as justification, the bigger question remains: Do NPFL coaches actually have enforceable contracts, or are they at the mercy of whims and emotions of club administrators?
In established football systems, contracts are binding documents that protect both the club and the coach.
When a coach underperforms, termination is often followed by compensation or severance pay, because the law respects the sanctity of contracts. Unfortunately, in the NPFL, coaches are routinely shown the exit door without a second thought—and without a dime in compensation.
This trend raises deeper concerns. Why are league organizers not strict about enforcing contractual agreements? The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) board often looks the other way when clubs breach contracts.
Coaches, who already work under difficult conditions—late salaries, poor infrastructure, lack of welfare—are left stranded and humiliated when they are sacked without due process.
The instability created by such actions goes beyond the individual. Constant hiring and firing weakens the technical continuity of clubs, erodes team morale, and diminishes the professional image of Nigerian football. No ambitious coach—local or foreign—would willingly work in an environment where contracts mean nothing and job security is a mirage.
If Nigerian football is serious about growth, then there must be strict enforcement of contractual obligations. League organizers must ensure clubs respect the rights of coaches and provide compensation when contracts are terminated prematurely. Anything short of this perpetuates a vicious cycle of instability, injustice, and mediocrity.
Until clubs are held accountable, the NPFL will remain a league where coaches are hired to be fired—without protection, without dignity, and without justice.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
