ABU DHABI // Abel Braga has urged the decision-makers at the Pro League to look at their scheduling after guiding Al Jazira to their first league title.
Starting their season on August 27, the second day of the current league campaign, Jazira sealed the title on Monday night with a 4-0 win over Al Wasl.
However, there are still four games to play and Braga and his team will have to wait until June 5, the final day of the league, to get their hands on the trophy.
This season has been marred with frequent breaks, for the Gulf Cup, the Asian Cup, the Asian Games and the Champions League, and the league has been stretched to more than nine months. With the summer at its peak, Braga believes this is not the best time to play football.
"The people managing the league should have a think about the scheduling," he said. "The league is ending in a really difficult time regarding the weather. It is very, very hot now.
"There are only 12 teams in this league, so we should be able to finish a lot sooner."
Braga, however, was pleased with Jazira's performance through this long season. They won their first President's Cup title last month and have now sealed the first league crown in the 34-year history of the club. For three consecutive seasons, they had finished second.
"We are really proud of this championship and we fully deserve it because we have done it with four matches still to play," Braga said. "I am really happy because Jazira have waited for this for such a long time. This is our time and we have done it."
Braga has been with Jazira since 2008 and his contract is up for renewal at the end of this season. Reports have linked him with a return to Brazilian club Fluminense, but the coach, who won the 2006 Club World Cup with Internacional, said: "The contract is not my decision, but I hope I will continue. By next week, everything will be clear."