PLC fixtures switch angers AGL clubs

Martyn Thomas 12:22 30/04/2014
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  • Communication is key: Zenga urges more cooperation between the PLC and clubs.

    The Pro League Committee’s (PLC) decision to reschedule the final two rounds of the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) season has been met with dismay by some of its clubs.

    With the championship and relegation already settled, the PLC confirmed on Monday that it would split the final fixtures over two days instead of playing them simultaneously.

    Although no teams still playing in the AFC Champions League (ACL) or GCC Club Cup have had the dates of their remaining games moved, Al Nasr and Al Shabab will play earlier, while Al Ain and Al Jazira have had both their final two kick-off times postponed by an hour and a quarter.

    The turnaround from their final AGL game on May 10 to their ACL round of 16 second leg in the Garden City three days later was already tight and has left Jazira coach Walter Zenga seriously considering playing his reserves in their league meeting at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Thursday night.

    It is a decision that could dent his side’s chances of qualifying for Asia’s premier club competition in 2015, with six clubs still in the race for a top three spot.

    “The only thing I’m thinking about is whether to play with players that haven’t played to give others a rest,” said Zenga, who turned 54 on Monday.

    “Is it important to win the Champions League or not? Now at the end of the season, do you take care of the teams who are still in the Champions League and protect them? No, [you] move the time by more than an hour and finish late at night.

    "So do you think as a coach against Sharjah I’m going to play with the starting XI and then two days later I have the second leg of the Champions League?”

    The Italian added: “It might be that next game I am going to play with the reserves in Al Ain because I need to protect my players.”

    Zenga feels there needs to be more cooperation between the PLC and its clubs.

    “We need collaboration from whoever decides time, date and other things,” he stated. “I think that is logical but there is no discussion there is only this way.”

    The rescheduling was also questioned by Al Wahda chairman Areef Al Awani on Tuesday. He believes it has not been properly thought through.

    Jazira’s neighbours are currently on an eight-game unbeaten run in the league that has seen them narrow the gap on secondplace Shabab to just a single point.

    And Al Awani believes the fight for Asian football should have been given the same respect as the race for the title by the PLC.

    “Whoever rescheduled the matches, put in mind that Al Ahli are definitely the champions, and both Dubai and Al Shaab relegated to the first division,” he said. “He did not put in mind that there are more than one team competing for the second place, which qualifies the winner to participate with Al Ahli next season in AFC Champions League.”

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