Thursday, January 20, 2011

NPL suspends keeper Akpan


In the wake of the brawl game in an encounter between Sunshine Stars and Heartland, goalkeeper Bassey Akpan (pictured) has become the latest to be charged with unsporting conduct.
The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) in a statement has slammed a one-game suspension on the Heartland goalkeeper for his poor behaviour in last Sunday's game against Sunshine Stars.
Akpan will also pay N100,000 as fine to the NPL.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Premier League, Tunji Babalola, told SuperSport.com that Akpan was charged and suspended based on the match report submitted to the NPL.
Babalola said the Heartland goalkeeper was suspended for shoving the centre referee, Friday Awogo from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja during a Week 12 game.
"He (Akpan) pushed the referee during the game between Sunshine Stars and Heartland. That incident was in the match report submitted to the NPL. So we have decided to act on it," said the Premier League scribe.
Babalola added that the wave of fines and suspensions in the Nigerian topflight is to ensure that all actors in the championship keep to the rules guiding the NPL.
“NPL will remain steadfast in sanitising the league of any unprofessional conduct on and off the pitch at regular interval,” said Babalola.
Akpan will now miss Heartland's next home match against Zamfara United in Calabar this weekend.
He is the second player to be slammed with such charge this week after Enyimba's Austin Kadiri suffered same fate for punching an opponent in a Week 12 game against Warri Wolves last Sunday.

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