September 27, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has introduced a fresh requirement for Head Coaches to hold the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) B coaching badge, if they wish to be in the technical area during matches this upcoming season.
Chief Operating Officer for the NPL, Davidson Owumi, made the announcement as part of the preparations for the 2023/2024 campaign. In a statement, Owumi said the move was aimed at boosting the quality of technical competence at clubs. “One of the areas of the league we seek to improve in the new season is the area of technical performance of our teams through the players and this can only be achieved by having competent Managers on the bench”, he commented.
The NPL believes this new rule will motivate coaches to develop further through proper qualifications. Owumi noted: “The idea is to encourage our coaches to improve themselves through higher certifications by participating in reputable courses.”
It remains to be seen what impact the directive has but increasing standards is a regular strategy employed by federations. The threshold may rise again next term, suggesting a long-term strategy to professionalise coaching. For now, only those with the CAF B will be given permission to oversee games from the technical area.
Owumi said the ruling would be assessed going forward but stressed improving technical ability at all levels was paramount for the NPL. The goal is higher quality football delivered by well-trained managers and players, which can then filter through to the national team set-up.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
