The China Football Association, or CFA, plans to divide next season's Super League match schedule into three stages to give the national teams more time for training.

When the new season starts on March 10 next year, the Shandong-based Peninsula City News says it will have a one month hiatus to allow teams to prepare for the Asian Cup and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The league matches that are usually held in September will also be suspended for a series of friendly matches for the national Olympic team.

The CFA will also abolish the annual CFA Cup tournament from next year, even though it has a history of more than 11 years in China.

(CRI September 19, 2006)