Coaches decry congested league schedule

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Kenyan Premier League coaches have raised concerns over congested fixtures ahead of this weekend’s 11th round.

Players have been forced to bear the brunt of long exhaustive road trips to honour fixtures in far flung towns across the country with teams playing at least three matches in a span of seven days.

This has not gone down well with Chemelil Sugar coach Abdalla Juma and his Posta Rangers counterpart Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo.

The millers have been worst hit with the busy fixture schedule.

Chemelil suffered a 2-0 defeat to joint-league leaders Gor Mahia on Wednesday in Thika, barely 72 hours after they had drawn with Muhoroni Youth in a replayed match in Awasi. The match had been rained off on Saturday.

Chemelil, who are tied on points (14) with ninth-placed AFC Leopards, are scheduled to host Sofapaka tomorrow before travelling to Nairobi on May 21 to face Nakumatt.

“These fixtures are really exhausting. How did KPL come up with such a congested three-day fixture in a week? We have not had time to recover, train or prepare for this match (Gor Mahia) after our replay against Muhoroni,” Juma told The Standard Sports after his side’s 2-0 loss to Gor Mahia.

“This is not good for the players. It is only good when the team is winning, but very demoralising when you are losing. Most teams are losing because of fatigue as they don’t have time to recover and prepare. ”

Omollo, whose side drew with Muhoroni in an away mid-week tie barely four days after seeing off Sofapaka 1-0 in Nakuru, said Nairobi-based teams and Bandari are the most affected.