How KPL can conclude with congested schedule – Chemelil Sugar’s Odera

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) should be concluded even if it means playing with a congested programme, Chemelil Sugar head coach Charles Odera has said.

Odera says there is no need of terminating the suspended league if it will not resume in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Handing a title to one of the contestants, Odera affirms, would open a can of worms which may lead to intense disapproval.

“If normalcy is restored, it would be better to conclude the league by playing the remaining matches. If one is given the league championship, perhaps it would affect the other teams who had thought they were really in the contest for the title,” Odera told Goal.

“Remember there will also be the relegation issue which must be solved and the same case is replicated in the lower leagues.

“We can actually play these games with a congested programme.”

The KPL winning star stated the congested programme may not have adverse effects on the health of players who, after all, train every day before matchdays.

“During my playing days, games were played with a break of just a day or two,” Odera explained. “We were actually playing on Saturday and Sunday it was common that in a week a player could have played five matches that also included the Shield Cup matches.

“The change in footballing programmes has also contributed to the laziness of modern footballers. 

“Remember training is mostly conducted within one hour and thirty minutes almost every day and a football match will last for the same period of time. 

“Training sessions are even tougher than actual matches and this means we have no reason not to conclude the league by playing all matches.

“So, tell me why we cannot play within a short period and conclude the league?”

The tactician went on to give tentative days which matches can be conducted in order for the league to end within the shortest possible period.

“If we can play on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday then concluding the remaining matches would be very easy and this can help mitigate murmurs that would come if one is declared champions going by the current standings,” Odera concluded.

Chemelil Sugar and Kisumu All-Stars were fighting to avoid relegation as per the current standings.