Tenger prefers abridged league

[Shola Sholaz]

Akwa United coach, Justin Tenger has said an abridged league would have been more appropriate for the 2012/13 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season instead of the usual regular season.
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The League Management Committee (LMC) had sued for an abridged league but was upturned by the club owners who went for the regular league season which will commence on March 9.
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Tenger said the exigency of time and financialconsideration on clubs should have swayed the stakeholders to allow the upcoming season to run on an abridged format.
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"That was my thinking and many, too, thought same way that having wasted a lot of time to kickoff the season a special arrangement would have been put in place so as to accommodate the lost time and make the season less stressful for clubs as well as players.
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"An abridged league would have been a better alternative. Teams will play less matches which will not put further financial stress on their already leap purse.
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"Majority of the clubs are barely surviving. Now with the full league season in place teams would compulsorily play weekend and mid-week matches.
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It was tough for clubs to abide with this in the past. I'll wait to see how the whole programme will unfold," said the former Niger Tornadoes' said.
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Tenger said his wards are ready for their season opener against former Nigerian champions, Dolphins in Uyo on March 9.
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"We pray to start off the season very well by winning convincingly. We've concluded pre-season preparations now we're looking forward to the kick- off date. We only pray there won't be further change in the date," he said.