NTF Battles Tournament Disruptions as Players Protest Prize Money Deductions
Oru Leonard
The ongoing sixth edition of the DavNotch Open Tennis Championship in Abuja was thrown into temporary disarray after players staged a protest over prize money deductions, welfare allowances and tournament remuneration, prompting the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), to intervene and apologise to sponsors.
The protest, which disrupted matches on Monday, saw players boycott scheduled games, insisting that concerns over welfare packages and deductions from their earnings be addressed before competition resumed.
Reacting to the development, NTF Secretary-General, Shammah Makpa, condemned the action, describing it as a violation of the federation’s code of conduct and an unfortunate incident for one of Nigeria’s premier tennis tournaments.
Makpa offered an apology to tournament sponsors, DavNotch Nigeria Limited, noting that the championship had enjoyed six years of successful organisation without major disruptions.
“The DavNotch Open is one of the top-rated championships in this country and has been successfully organised for the past six years. It is unfortunate that we are witnessing this kind of experience and disregard for the rules and code of conduct,” he said.
The protesting players argued that prize money and welfare support at both the DavNotch and VEMP Open Championships no longer reflect the rising costs of competing on the domestic tennis circuit. They also demanded the removal of deductions made from prize money earned during tournaments.
While acknowledging the athletes’ right to seek improved conditions, Makpa maintained that grievances should be pursued through established channels rather than through actions capable of disrupting competition.
According to him, welfare allowances provided during tournaments are subsidies intended to ease players’ expenses such as feeding and logistics, while prize money remains the primary financial reward for participants.
He further defended the federation’s policy of deducting a percentage from players’ winnings, explaining that similar arrangements exist in professional tennis competitions worldwide.
“Players demanded that the federation abolish the deduction made from prize money. This is a standard practice in tennis. Even on the ATP Tour, a certain percentage is deducted and paid to the organisers or federation. It is not something peculiar to Nigeria,” Makpa stated.
The NTF official also warned against future boycotts, stressing that players could not impose conditions on organisers by refusing to compete until their demands were met.
Despite the disruption, Makpa expressed confidence that the incident would not affect the federation’s relationship with DavNotch Nigeria Limited, revealing that the sponsor had accepted the federation’s apology.
He added that discussions were already underway with the sponsor to expand investment in grassroots tennis development, citing the unique structure of the DavNotch Championship, which accommodates junior, senior and wheelchair tennis events.
The protest has once again highlighted concerns over athlete welfare and financial support within Nigerian tennis, with stakeholders warning that unresolved issues surrounding prize money and player incentives could affect participation and slow the growth of the sport across the country.
Although federation officials and players’ representatives have held talks aimed at resolving the impasse, no official decision has yet been announced regarding a review of prize money or welfare packages at the tournament.
