Advertisement
by Pasarga » Sun Jan 25, 2015 3:29 pm
by Nova Anglicana » Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:04 pm
by Kernansquillec » Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:19 pm
# Qualifying Group 3 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Fixtures
1 Star United States 4 4 0 0 10 0 +10 12 KRN, - , NVA
2 Kernansquillec 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7 SUS, LYM, -
3 D-Cup 3 1 1 1 4 6 −2 4 TRB, NVA, CHI
4 Nova Anglicana 3 0 2 1 1 2 −1 2 LYM, DCU, SUS
5 The Royal Barangay 3 0 2 1 2 4 −2 2 DCU, CHI, LYM
6 Lymantatia 3 0 2 1 3 6 −3 2 NVA, KRN, TRB
7 Chiata 4 0 2 2 1 5 −4 2 - , TRB, DCU
by Venta de la Mesilla » Sun Jan 25, 2015 7:36 pm
Venta de la Mesilla 3-0 Gloriax
Baby Bronze Wins 3-0 to Move to 3-0
By Carlos del Negro, one day ago
The "Baby Bronze" may be their nickname, but the way this team has played so far in the thirty-third Di Bradini Cup has been anything but infantile. A strong showing against Gloriax saw the Bronze dominate time of possession and keep the ball in the midfield until it was time to score three separate times. A solid offensive effort from Gloriax was unable to convert thanks to some acrobatic saves by Miles Hurst, and La Mesilla completed the first half of qualifying at 3-0 with a paltry one goal conceded.
The game had a surprisingly slow start, with a timid midfield game on both sides resulting in missed tackles and a handful of free kicks being awarded both ways. The first penetration came from Gloriax at around twenty, when a striker beat Andre Brennan deep and managed to shoot on goal, only to have Miles Hurst deny it over the bar for a corner. On the rebound from the resulting corner, Sophie Buckley got some headroom up the left side before crossing to Octavia Thomas, who kept the ball in the air on its way to Ishmael Andrews, who walked it in for a score at 22'.
The first half ended 1-0 Bronze, and Brennan came off at half in favor of Strangers teammate Myra Church. The game once again stagnated in midfield as the Mesillanos appeared determined to park the bus and ride the game out at 1-0. A visibly frustrated Coach Trujillo sent in Taeshan City midfielder Brooke McKay to replace the sluggish Mohammed Gilmore and she managed to liven things up, dispossessing a Gloriax midfielder near the center of the pitch and feeding the ball to Thomas, who split two Gloriaxian defenders to find the back of the net.
The last goal seemed almost automatic as Christopher Moore took the ball from a throw-in up the right side and bombed a cross over to Manuel Reid, whose header slipped just under the crossbar and over the Gloriaxian keeper's hands to seal the home team's fate. With four goals in three matches, the Vermillion Rage striker remains the second leading scorer in this Di Bradini Cup qualification, behind Awax Zeroz of Allied Omaha.
"This was a lot better," said coach Avery Trujillo, "I feel like Miles is still covering a lot of mistakes, but the substitutes stepped up and we came away with a clean sheet and a win. I'm not going to argue with the scoreboard."
Karyl Bayne on Gloriax, International Soccer, and La Mesilla
By Carlos del Negro, one day ago
Last week, we discussed the eight players from the Baby Bronze who have accepted foreign contracts, and what their chances of success might be. Now we turn our attention to a professional soccer player who has already made the transition from playing in her homeland to a foreign club: Karyl Bayne, right-back and newly-minted vice captain for Strangers FC of the Multiverse Premier League, until recently the only professional soccer team in La Mesilla. Bayne arrived at Strangers midway through the MPL season and made an immediate impact, starting twelve games for the green-and-bronze and scoring two goals. She also emerged as a leader both on and off the field, a talent that earned her the vice-captain's badge for the coming season.
NA: When I interviewed you for Stranger Danger, you said you were looking forward to spending your offseason in Puerto Penasco. How's that going?
Only, you know, fabulously. Seriously, it's great. I wake up every morning and I run on the beach, then at night I drink margaritas and watch the sun set. I have yet to see the inside of a tanning bed, and I'm tanner than I ever was at home.
That's good to hear. You look great, by the way. We're here to discuss the match between Gloriax and La Mesilla in the Di Bradini Cup. Did you watch the match and if so, where?
Thank you, and of course I did! I thought about going out to a bar, but then I thought it might turn ugly if I had a few too many and started singing Gloriax cheers so I stayed in with some girlfriends and watched it on my TV. Jules Walsh brought her laptop down and somehow she rigged it up so we could watch it.
What was going through your head while you were watching the game? What were some of your thoughts?
I kept being conflicted about who to root for. I thought I had made up my mind to be for Gloriax, but I was so happy when Sophie Buckley scored the second goal that I kind of forgot whom they were playing (laughs). So I guess I felt a mixture of pride for my Strangers teammates, pride for Gloriax for staying in there even though they were losing, and a little bit of sadness for being a Gloriaxian watching my team lose.
What do you think of the Stranger's you've seen in the DBC so far? Who has stood out to you the most?
Definitely Miles Hurst. I'd only seen him a couple times, but he's really doing a phenomenal job. I mean they've conceded, what, one goal, right? In three matches that's pretty good. I don't care how good your defense is, and ours is pretty good, one goal in three games is impressive. Besides him, I mean, I was really happy when Sophie Buckley got the captain's armband and I think she's doing a great job both there and on the field.
Let's talk Strangers, just briefly. How does that vice captain spot feel, and what are your expectations for this coming season?The vice captaincy is huge for me. Just huge. It means so much to have gained the trust of my teammates in so short a time, and if it means I have a chance of succeeding Trevor Hyde, and all the fantastic things he's done, then I'm even more honored. I'm so excited for next season. As far as what to expect, I think an MPL championship is well within our grasp. We demonstrated last season we can go toe-to-toe with Smyslova Virmest and come away clean, and I think we've improved since then. I think Gottlieb Rieglberg is going to keep making a difference, and we're going to keep working hard on D, and I really think we've got a shot at it.
Well, you heard it here first: from promotion to championship in one season for the Strangers. Thank you for your time, Karyl.
Always! Thank you!
by Vermark » Sun Jan 25, 2015 7:49 pm
by Starblaydia » Tue Jan 27, 2015 6:37 pm
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Allied Omaha 4 3 1 0 7 3 +4 10
2 Pasarga 4 3 1 0 5 2 +3 10
3 Yttribia 4 3 0 1 7 3 +4 9
4 Eura 5 2 1 2 6 6 0 7
5 Polaaskan 4 1 2 1 6 5 +1 5
6 Furellum 4 0 1 3 4 7 −3 1
7 Patistan 5 0 0 5 1 10 −9 0
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Venta de la Mesilla 4 4 0 0 9 2 +7 12
2 The Sword Bloke 5 2 1 2 11 9 +2 7
3 Vermark 5 2 1 2 8 9 −1 7
4 Gloriax 4 1 1 2 6 8 −2 4
5 Farfadillis 4 1 1 2 5 7 −2 4
Starblaydia 4 1 1 2 5 7 −2 4
7 Dainer 4 1 1 2 4 6 −2 4
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Star United States 5 4 1 0 12 2 +10 13
2 Kernansquillec 5 2 2 1 7 5 +2 8
3 D-Cup 4 2 1 1 5 6 −1 7
4 Nova Anglicana 4 1 2 1 4 3 +1 5
5 The Royal Barangay 4 0 2 2 2 5 −3 2
6 Chiata 4 0 2 2 1 5 −4 2
7 Lymantatia 4 0 2 2 4 9 −5 2
by The Sword Bloke » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:03 pm
by Venta de la Mesilla » Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:37 am
Farfadillis 1-2 Venta de la Mesilla
Strangers Concede Second DBC Goal in 2-1 Win over Farfadillis
By Carlos del Negro, less than a day ago
A single goal near the end of the match against Farfadillis served as an unusual contrast to what has been a nigh perfect tournament for young Strangers goalkeeper Miles Hurst. A Farfadillian striker split Brooke Nolan and Virgil Wilkins and fired a shot to the far corner too fast for Hurst to catch on, and Farfadillis cut the Baby Bronze's lead in half, but the score was ultimately meaningless as La Mesilla walked away with the win and locked down first place in qualifying group 2.
The qualification math is somewhat complex at this point, but the Bronze has qualified by virtue of the second and third place teams, The Sword Bloke and Vermark, respectively, each having only one game left to play. The Bronze could lose both their last two qualifying matches, at home against final tournament host Starblaydia and Dainer and finish qualifying with their current total of twelve points, while even if The Sword Bloke and Dainer both win their final match, their highest possible total is only ten.
Coach Trujillo welcomed the news that his team had locked down qualification for the finals stage of the DBC, but said it would not effect his preparation for the matches against Dainer and Starblaydia. "Honestly, I may not even mention it to them," he said, "If they read this article, or do the math themselves, good for them, but I'm not going to include it in our gameday preparation. Starblaydia and Dainer are still two very strong soccer-playing nations, and the experience of these two matches is going to be too valuable to give up."
The match itself was probably the best the Baby Bronze has played to date, despite the scoreline. The Mesillanos ran the length of the field, pacing the sprightly Farfadillians and keeping the ball moving all ninety minutes. The defense rebuffed several attempts from the opposition to cut in and score, and the Bronze generally dominated time of possession. The first score came from Marlborough City striker Ishamel Andrews in the thirty-sixth after he found an avenue in off a throw-in by team captain Sophie Buckley. The second was a go-ahead off a free kick by right winger Christopher Moore, his first in the tournament.
by Starblaydia » Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:48 am
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Yttribia 5 4 0 1 9 3 +6 12 Q
2 Allied Omaha 5 3 2 0 9 5 +4 11 Q
3 Pasarga 5 3 2 0 7 4 +3 11 Q
4 Eura 5 2 1 2 6 6 0 7 E
5 Polaaskan 5 1 2 2 6 7 −1 5 E
6 Furellum 5 0 2 3 5 8 −3 2 E
7 Patistan 6 0 1 5 2 11 −9 1 E
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Venta de la Mesilla 5 5 0 0 12 3 +9 15 Q
2 Vermark 6 3 1 2 10 10 0 10 Q
3 The Sword Bloke 5 2 1 2 11 9 +2 7
4 Gloriax 5 1 2 2 7 9 −2 5
5 Farfadillis 5 1 2 2 6 8 −2 5
6 Dainer 5 1 1 3 5 8 −3 4 E
7 Starblaydia 5 1 1 3 6 10 −4 4 E
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Star United States 5 4 1 0 12 2 +10 13
2 Kernansquillec 6 3 2 1 9 5 +4 11
3 D-Cup 5 3 1 1 8 8 0 10
4 Nova Anglicana 5 1 2 2 6 6 0 5
5 Chiata 5 1 2 2 3 6 −3 5
6 The Royal Barangay 5 0 2 3 3 7 −4 2
7 Lymantatia 5 0 2 3 4 11 −7 2
by The Sword Bloke » Fri Jan 30, 2015 12:49 pm
by Venta de la Mesilla » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:45 pm
Venta de la Mesilla 3-1 Starblaydia
Bronze Concede One Against Starblaydia, Remain Undefeated
By Carlos del Negro, one day ago
Despite the apparent meaninglessness of their match against the eliminated hosts of the Di Bradini Cup, the Baby Bronze played well in their fifth game of the qualifying campaign. Keeper Miles Hurst conceded a goal early in the second half, only his third in six matches so far in the DBC, while Sophie Buckley registered her first goal of the tournament in the Starblaydi net. A solid defensive effort led the way throughout, rebuffing a robust Starblaydi attack that at times even threatened to equalize before Ishmael Andrews put the game out of reach.
Buckley scored her girl early, dribbling in off a set piece in what has become a recurring theme for the Bronze this tournament. An overeager tackle in the tenth minute gave Chris Moore a chance to bend the ball into Buckley's lap, where she was able to beat the Starblaydi right back and score in the high corner to give the Bronze an early lead.
2-0 came toward the end of the first half, when Manuel Reid won a footrace against the Starblaydi holding mid and stayed onside long enough to split the attention of the Starblaydi goalkeeper until Octavia Thomas could feed him the ball for an early score. "Outclassed" is not a word often used to describe Starblaydi soccer teams, but the team in purple, the U-21 squad that produced the tournament's namesake Simeone Di Bradini and current national team manager Lena Koschenka, has been routinely outclassed by much less glamorous nations, including Venta de La Mesilla, in this qualification.
As the teams returned to the field in the second half, a transformation seemed to overcome the Bronze, and not for the better. An ill-advised pass from McKay intended for Moore was intercepted by the Starblaydi midfield and taken all the way to the goal, where a quick-thinking Hurst denied the first shot but could not reposition himself in time for the rebound, which slammed home into the net. Gilmore replaced McKay shortly after and took the tempo of the game down, but Coach Trujillo refused to let his boys and girls park the bus until around minute eighty, when Ishmael Andrews broke through and split two defenders to find the back of the net.
Rolling into the final match of qualification against Dainer, the Baby Bronze has secured its position in the final tournament, where the real work will begin against world class teams like Nephara, Equestrian States, and World Cup finalist Felix. Nevertheless, the Mesillano youngsters appear well-prepared for the challenge at hand, with good team play and a solid understanding of how to use their various talents to their greatest advantage. Despite the standout play of Miles Hurst and Manuel Reid, the team's focus remains in the back half of the field, where Brooke McKay has come off the bench to do a great job quarterbacking the offense as a deep-lying playmaker while Octavia Thomas plays forward and sets up the strikers, both of whom have acquitted themselves excellently thus far.
by Starblaydia » Mon Feb 02, 2015 10:28 am
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Pasarga 6 4 2 0 8 4 +4 14
2 Yttribia 6 4 1 1 10 4 +6 13
3 Allied Omaha 6 3 3 0 10 6 +4 12
4 Eura 6 3 1 2 8 7 +1 10
5 Polaaskan 6 1 2 3 7 9 −2 5
6 Furellum 6 0 2 4 5 9 −4 2
7 Patistan 6 0 1 5 2 11 −9 1
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Venta de la Mesilla 6 5 1 0 14 5 +9 16
2 Vermark 6 3 1 2 10 10 0 10
3 The Sword Bloke 6 2 2 2 12 10 +2 8
4 Starblaydia 6 2 1 3 7 10 −3 7
5 Gloriax 6 1 3 2 8 10 −2 6
6 Dainer 6 1 2 3 7 10 −3 5
7 Farfadillis 6 1 2 3 6 9 −3 5
# Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Star United States 6 4 2 0 13 3 +10 14
2 Kernansquillec 6 3 2 1 9 5 +4 11
3 D-Cup 6 3 2 1 10 10 0 11
4 Nova Anglicana 6 1 3 2 7 7 0 6
5 Chiata 6 1 3 2 5 8 −3 6
6 The Royal Barangay 6 1 2 3 5 7 −2 5
7 Lymantatia 6 0 2 4 4 13 −9 2
by Venta de la Mesilla » Mon Feb 02, 2015 1:53 pm
Venta de la Mesilla 2-2 Dainer
Bronze Earns First Qualifying Draw
By Carlos del Negro, two days ago
In an ultimately meaningless but nevertheless intriguing match between veteran football nation Dainer and minnows Venta de la Mesilla, the Bronze came away with their first draw of qualifying, as well as the first match in which more than one goal found its way between the gloves of standout keeper Miles Hurst. An exceptional performance by striker Manuel Reid was not enough to keep the Daineri at bay, and a late equalizer put a single digit in the second column for the otherwise-perfect Bronze.
The game started out strong for the Mesillanos, with an early penalty committed by Ysmault allowing Reid to put the ball away past Rude Boy's glove. The rest of the second half was scoreless, as the Mesillanos parked the bus and Dainer was unable to get deep enough in Bronze territory to threaten the box. The next score came from Ipqeny off a corner kick conceded by Brooke Nolan around the fiftieth minute. Reid was quick to answer with a long drive down the center of the field that ended with a kick from outside the eighteen-yard box.
More defensive soccer followed, until a critical foul was committed at midfield by Mohammed Gilmore in the eighty-eighth minute. The resultant free kick allowed Hoeen to shoot from the back door, just barely missing the post to the inside and getting past Hurst. An enraged Coach Trujillo pulled Gilmore immediately, but to no effect as the game ended with the score at 2-2.
"It wasn't our best game by any stretch," Trujillo said following the game, "But then it didn't have to be. I just hope we got all that out of our system, because the big leagues are next."
Asked if there were any teams he'd like to avoid in the finals, Trujillo said that he felt all the teams were on pretty even footing. "I mean, there's no pots, so we'll get who we get. We're one of three teams to escape qualifying undefeated, and we have the best record of the nine teams that had to qualify, but then again, we had to qualify. Nothing I saw in qualifying scared me to the point of not wanting to play a certain team, no, and as for the teams that have qualified already, they must be there for a reason, but I've never seen any of them play."
Draw results will be announced tomorrow, along with the finals schedule for the Baby Bronze.
Di Bradini Cup Finals Draw Announced: Bronze to Face Yttribia, Semarland, and Abanhleft
By Carlos del Negro, one day ago
The draw has been announced for the finals of the Di Bradini Cup, and the Bronze will be in Group F facing, in order, Yttribia, Abanhleft, and Semarland. The Mesillano youths already won qualifying group 2 by a fair margin, and left the qualifying round with sixteen points, the most of any of the nine teams that advanced to the finals.
Yttribia, La Mesilla's first opponent, whom they will face at Nemyan National Stadium in Hecia, Starblaydia, finished second in qualifying group 1, with a paltry four goals allowed by their keeper, William Passant. Standout striker Manuel Reid will need to find a way to beat Passant at the line if he intends to get away from this match with three points. Seventeen year-old captain Ulysses Bonaventure should also prove a worthy challenge to Reid's sharpshooting and Octavia Thomas's imaginative play in the hole.
Abanhleft enters the tournament with a glut of the one commodity most U-21 teams lack, experience, returning all but five of their previous youth players. It is impossible to say how this team will look, not having seen them in qualifying, but their attacking football may prove to be a strain on the relatively weak Bronze defense. Miles Hurst may have to work overtime to keep the barrage of shots, or the attacking trio of Thomas, Reid, and Andrews may be able to pin the Fleftics down for ninety minutes.
The final group-stage match against Semarland introduces something of a subplot to the mix as Ishmael Andrews faces his teammate from Marlborough City, Semarland keeper Marco Valbuena. Whether any advance knowledge plays into the gameplan is up for questioning, however, as Andrews has yet to report to his club team and will not do so until after the Di Bradini Cup has concluded. Whatever the case, there will be no camaraderie between the two as they battle in what may be the most important match of the tournament for both teams.
Team captain Sophie Buckley's main concern is with Yttribia. "I think if we can get our momentum rolling against them, we'll be fine for the tournament. We're such an inexperienced team, though, that a single loss could throw us off-track. If that happens, it's going to be up to me and Coach Trujillo to try and rally the girls and boys; however, we should come away from Yttribia with three points a good head start on the rest of the tournament."
Coach Trujillo agrees that morale may be the greatest challenge facing this team. "I think we have the potential to be our own best friend, or worst enemy," he said. "There are going to be mistakes; no doubt Simeone di Bradini himself made mistakes when he played in this tournament, but the question becomes how do we deal with them. This is the big leagues, and these kids have what it takes, but the question is whether they know it."
by The Sword Bloke » Mon Feb 02, 2015 2:12 pm
by United States of Devonta » Mon Feb 02, 2015 2:45 pm
Ask Devonta a Question/Embassy ProgramUS Air Force E-4Twenty-Five, Male, Lightskin, Social Democrat, Proud Kansan
Proud member of the IFC, SA, IHAPC, IDS, PEDC, IBE, ISA nation!
by Schottia » Mon Feb 02, 2015 3:07 pm
The Daily Worker
Di Bradini Cup Special
Marrian McFadden reports
With the qualifiers over and the 33rd Di Bradini Cup about to get underway, The Daily Worker takes a look at the teams standing in our youngsters' way. It will be a tall order for Schottia to do repeat performance of last cycle, where the White and Greens came through the qualifiers to top their group, only narrowly loosing out to Nephara in the last 16. The U-21 championship is never an easy competition, with the world’s top young talent battling hard to catch the eye of their senior team bosses.
Schottia have named a strong squad, many of them were in the team last time round, and also featured in the Oyimpic U-23 squad which reached the quarterfinals. One notable inclusion in the starting line up is teenager Kim Coultan, who has been on good form in the Buyanese Top Division. It has been well documented that the midfielder is the first female player to be capped by the senior squad. In addition to this, manager Jock Sonny will look to captain Eion Killanen and winger Craig O'Maramy who also have national team experience from the last World Cup and Cup of Harmony.
Equestrian States
First up for Schottia are their hosts last time round, the Equestrian States. With their senior side ranked 28th in the world they are likely to be stiff opposition. The Di Bradini Cup 27 Champions also boast an array for players featuring in some of the top leagues in the world, including: Vilita and Felix. This is likely to be the toughest test for Schottia, but the confidence they would receive from a win here could really set them up for the rest of the tournament. The Little Ponies are a more defensive side, so key to getting a result here will be trying to break them down without conceding on the counterattack. The Skots will rely heavily on the ability of attackers like O'Maramy and Killanen to break down the Ponies defence, and try to put Silver Charm under pressure.
Allied Omaha
One of the tournament's little known packages, but they will have grabbed a few peoples attention qualifying from their group ahead of Eura and Furellum. This extremely attack minded side operate a 3-4-3 so we can expect to see a fair few goal at any rate. They certainly have the ability to cause Schottia a few problems and 18-year-old striker Junaid Khan will need to be watched closely. This is one of the games Schottia will need to take something from if they are to qualify. If they are able to absorb the periods of pressure when Omaha are on the attack, then they should have enough in their arsenal to get a result. That said, this side did go through their group undefeated so they can't be taken lightly.
Estenia
With their senior side making steady progress through the world ranking, and finishing 4th in the Baptism of Fire, there is no doubt they are a competent international side. Like Schottia and the Equestrian States they were able to forgo the qualifiers, which can often be an advantage in terms of player fitness and condition. They are another defensive team who like to hit on the break, meaning this group is fairly well balanced in terms of playing styles. Although Estenia are a team that will have to be afforded a large amount of respect, like with Allied Omaha, Schottia will need to push for a win in order to go through.
Schottia's Leading Lady
Part One
Things were changing fast for Kim Coultan. A year could be a very long time in football, or in her case it had never felt shorter. She sat with the hood of her jumper pulled up, giving her something in the way of a thin cushion against the plane window. It was summer in Schottia and she was looking forward to touching down in Handon. Moving to Buyan had been the greatest experience of her life, but she missed home. The cold weather in Ravnar was hard, even for a South Belisarian, and the whole place had an alien culture devoid of any joy. In many ways she felt an overwhelming sense of freedom, but in a strange way she also felt trapped. Without the wage caps siphoning off her wages into the Schottic welfare system, she could earn more in two months with Jottnar Kallsmudden than she could in a year playing for Dundee.
It was a strange feeling coming back. When she had left the first time it had been as skinny 18-year-old, who had made the headlines for being one of the first woman to play in the Schottic League System. In truth she had made sixteen sub appearances for the Second tier champions, but crucially she had scored two goals and it was goals that people remembered. She knew that she really needed to get a move, Dundee were a great team to play for, but they didn't exactly have a track record in developing players; and training on a windswept school playing field all winter wasn't much good.
When the manager of Jottnar Kallsmudden had contacted her agent about joining up as a squad player she had jumped at the chance. Going from the bench in the Schottic second division to the bench of title challengers in the Buyanese premier league was a big step up. The Giants and their manager Freddi Ulvan had a bit of a reputation for developing young talent, so she gave herself two seasons to try and break into the first team; if she couldn't then she would have to look for something else. Kim was to have no idea just how conservative that time frame was going to be. By the end of the season she had earned a wage rise and had the number 10 printed on the back of her shirt. It didn't stop there either, she made history, becoming the first woman to be called up to the Schottic senior squad, and even got a run out as a sub in the 3-3 draw with Ceni.
The act of moving out in itself had also toughened Kim up, she had been forced to stand on her own two feet and make her own choice. Her father Richard had been a member of the Schottic Socialist Party in the 70s and 80s and he had always brought Kim up with the idea that that everyone should have the same, and that being rich was in some way evil. This had given her enormous anxiety problems regarding the wage she now received in Buyan. The first day she had been paid her hand was shaking as she logged in to check her internet banking. After three hours of on-and-off crying she had worked out on a piece of paper the amount that she needed to live comfortably for a week, and then donated the rest to charity. This had continued for the first three weeks, each time she was paid, Kim would be in tears thinking of all the poor capitalist children who were starving in other parts her region back home, then she would donate her wage to a children’s charity and she would feel better for again.
Then on the fourth week something changed.
Her parents would have never approved of her ordering expensive clothes. "There's nothing wrong with the Govmart range." Her Mother would say defiantly. Or "If ye need something fancy then go doon tae one of the boutiques." It was true, was nothing wrong with the selection of clothes in Govmart to be fair, and Kim really liked the lady that owned the vintage shop on the corner. Suddenly though everything was different. The change took place when she was sifting through the internet one night before bed, and she came across a website for some Noviteran clothing firm, it was one of those sort of high-end fashion concerns, with prices that gave her arms goose-bumps. The first night she looked at the site for ten minutes, then felt so bad about it she deleted her internet history and went straight to bed. Deleting the internet history was a bad idea, considering that she couldn't remember the web address and when she gingerly went looking for the page again it was hard to find.
After a few days she had plucked up a little more courage and resolved to make a purchase, she was getting paid on Friday and if she didn't give all the money away she would have enough to buy something. In the end she opted for a cream dress with blue flowers costing £800 and a pair of shoes costing £200. She had slammed her laptop closed and looked to the sky. At that moment she had no idea what she had done, this was probably the worst, most immoral act of her life. Pretty much the same two items, in a Govmart store back home would cost £90, the only difference would be the label.
Now, getting off the plane in Handon, everything had changed. Not Schottia, the place was always constant. It was her that had changed. Now the skinny, cautiously optimistic young girl that flew off to the islands of Buyan was replaced by a big name athlete, who was a key player in the Di Bradini Cup team. The night air was cool, but it still wasn't cold. There was a residual warmth in the hard runway, which would have been soaking up the sun all day. Kim pulled her phone out of her pocket and turned it back on. She had a message from her Mother telling her that she would pick her up from the station in Dundee. She was flying out to Starblaydia with the rest of the under 21s the next evening, but it would be nice to spend a night in her old bed; have breakfast with her Mum after all these months. She was looking forward to walking down her own street again. She might get up early to make the most of it, walk down to the corner shop and buy a copy of the Daily Worker and a pint of milk. She kept her hood up, and her glasses on, even though they were only readers. That was something else that was different now, when she left Dundee not too many people knew who she was, now she was pestered everywhere. It was something that Kim was just going to have to get used to.
by Kernansquillec » Tue Feb 03, 2015 3:21 pm
by Free Republics » Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:00 pm
by Starblaydia » Wed Feb 04, 2015 12:34 pm
by The Sword Bloke » Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:04 pm
by Venta de la Mesilla » Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:20 pm
Venta de la Mesilla 2-2 Yttribia
Bronze Hangs on to Save Three Points vs. Yttribia
By Carlos del Negro, one day ago
It was a long ninety for the Baby Bronze as they clung to dear life to their two goals in order to prevent the Yttribians from taking an early lead in order to preserve two points and stay tied for second place in the group. This was the second 2-2 draw in two matches for the Bronze, and yet the reaction was markedly different this time, sweaty relief rather than disappointment, optimism instead of cynicism.
The Yttribians dominated the first third, frequently sending the back four sprawling after their attackers as ball after ball found Diego Ruy up front. True to form, Miles Hurst denied three shots in the first twenty minutes, but flubbed a goal kick around twenty-two that sent the ball straight his direction. Making a critical error in judgement, Hurst bum-rushed an advancing Josef Cisternino, who simply flicked the ball over to Micallef, allowing his teammate to score on an open goal.
The Bronze response was slow and deliberate, with Ivy Burton and Brooke Nolan slowly creeping forward while being continually sent back by through balls from the purple playmakers. Eventually, Brooke McKay found space in front of the eighteen-meter box and drove forward, sending a lob pass forward to Thomas, who chipped the ball just over the crossbar, but nevertheless spooked Wilhelm Passant into conceding a corner. The corner, taken by Thomas, found Brooke McKay in perfect position to deflect the ball into the low corner with her ample forehead, thus equalizing the game at 1-1.
Yttribia came back brutally, seeming to toy with the Bronze up front. The Mesillanos had an impossible time clearing the ball, and several times Hurst had to put hands on it and boot it out of the area when his defense failed. Nevertheless, the young Strangers keeper stayed between the ball and the back of the net well enough to keep the score tied going into half time.
After the half, La Mesilla came out with more aggressive play, keeping the ball on the purple half as much as possible, but the goal eluded them, not least thanks to the efforts of the two defensive mids for Yttribia. A brief moment of brilliance after an hour of play saw Manuel Reid slip in between the back two Yttribian lines and bury the ball behind Passant's back, but the purple responded just as quickly with a long ball that somehow found Ruy in space. Ruy dribbled in and fired a chipshot too fast for Miles Hurst to react, and the score was once again equalized.
The final half-hour was a grind, as neither team wanted the win bad enough to risk giving up the advantage. A few shots went way wide for each team, but there were no serious attempts on goal either way. Asked after the game what he though, Coach Trujillo said he was satisfied, but that the next few games would need to be better. "Three points in three games isn't going to advance us in this Cup," Trujillo said bluntly, "I'll take the draw here, but we need to pull out a win against Abanhfleft or we may as well not bother with the Semarland game. That said, this may well be the toughest team we play, so I'm confident we'll put up a better fight against the other two."
Man of the match Brooke McKay was humble in talking about her goal as well as her role in limiting the damage done by the Yttribian attack. "I'm not perfect, and I didn't play perfectly, because if I had, we would have won," she said, "I was in the right place, right time to make that header, and I'm excited to have my first international goal, but it's not enough. I'm a defensive midfielder first and foremost, and I needed to lock down their front three, force them to make more passes, and I didn't do that. A draw is a draw, but we're going to need a win, and soon."
Wilcox Announces Retirement, Accepts Peacemakers Job
By Carlos del Negro, one day ago
Veteran Strangers FC keeper Jerred Wilcox has announced his retirement from the Multiverse Premier League at the age of thirty-five. In a short press conference held at the Strangers' training facility in the ghost town of Ajo, Wilcox said he has accepted a job as head coach of the fledgling Rocky Point Peacemakers, a club that is set to take the field in next year's Multiverse Conference, the third division of the MPL pyramid.
"Playing for Strangers was the best experience of my life," Wilcox said, "But it is time to move on. I leave the club in good hands with Drew James, my good friend and protege, as well as Miles Hurst, who has distinguished himself as part of our national squad in the Di Bradini Cup."
Wilcox, who was a founding member of the amateur Nogales United as well as a player/coach for 8 years, will serve as head coach for the new Peacemakers squad, which includes national U-21 backup goalie Rashad Dixon, the son of Tiburones guard Quincy Dixon. Peacemakers is a venture of the Shark Group, the same corporation that owns the Tiburones de Puerto Penasco basketball team and is in the process of urban renewal along Puerto Penasco's waterfront, to include a new indoor stadium for the Peacemakers.
"I had intended to play another season for the Strangers, but the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of another team was too good to pass up," Wilcox told reporters. "I have been a coach in the past, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience, so I hope it will be the same coaching in Multiverse Conference. I have a lot of ambitions for this team, and I have no doubt that we will put together the talent necessary to meet all of them."
Asked which talents in particular his team was scouting, Wilcox said that, having just accepted the job, he "hadn't been brought up to speed yet", but he did not deny that there were several Strangers players under consideration. Asked about his ambitions, he said he first wanted to build a squad that could work together, then play a friendly against the Strangers and win, and finally he said he wanted to be playing in the Multiverse Premier League within two seasons. Such a timeline is ambitious for a team that will make its debut next season in the Multiverse Conference, the lowest level of the pyramid, but just as Strangers clawed their way out of the second-tier Multiverse Championship, it seems that Peacemakers want to do the same.
"Jerred's been a real mentor to me, both on the senior side and while I was still a reserve," said Miles Hurst, third goalkeeper for the Strangers and starter for the Mesillano under-21 squad. "I wish him all the best in Puerto Penasco."
by Darmen » Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:35 pm
The Rogerton Saveloy Grande Hotel, torn apart by a bomb
by Taeshan » Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:48 pm
by Schottia » Wed Feb 04, 2015 2:36 pm
SBC News...
After Schottia's 2-1 defeat to The Equestrian States in their opening match at Foundation Road, SBC News caught up with manager Jock Sonny. The 61-year-old was able to spare a few minutes to give his thoughts on his side's performance.
Reporter: So Jock. A 2-1 defeat to The Equestrian States in the first match. Not the start you were hoping for I'm sure?
Sonny: Well no, I felt there was a good chance that we could have taken something from the game, we had plenty of chances. After we pulled level I really thought we were the team in the ascendency and should have pushed on from there. But, we didn't.
Reporter: You mentioned pulling level. Were you impressed by how the side responded to going 1-0 down? Around the time when you equalised it was very much the case that Schottia were dictating the play.
Sonny: Yeah we played well, but when you get yourself into that kind of position you need to make it count. You don't get second chances against sides like the Little Ponies. I thought Glen (Stephens) took his goal well, and it was a great ball from Larry Watt to start the move off. He's a player I felt has really grown with the team over the last couple of cycles.
Reporter: Larry Watt played well of course, but was there anyone else who caught your eye. I mean, there was a lot of chat about young Kim Coultan before the tournament. How did you think she did in the midfield?
Sonny: Kim's a cracking wee player, really good with the ball at her feet, she has really good movement. Eh... yeah. I thought she played well. It was always going to be tough for her today, her first time in the starting eleven, people forget as well that she is only eighteen and she is going to have ups and downs. But yeah she played well.
Reporter: Was there anyone else who stood out for you?
Sonny: Aye, well I thought the team all played well to be honest. Eh, Craig O'Maramy as always was outstanding; he is player who is very confident at this level. He has played a lot of matches for his club and he definitely adds something to our attack. Like I say the team played well it was just that final 10% that was lacking. That final push that gets you over the line, and I'm sorry but that is the difference between qualifying or not.
Reporter: There was a shout for a penalty at 1-1, certainly by Craig O'Maramy's reaction he felt like he had been fouled. What were your thoughts on that? Did you think there was much contact, I think it was Erauso Iburrusteta who seemed to catch him.
Sonny: (Laughs) Well that's Craig, he will appeal for anything. That's the way he plays always on the shoulder of the defender, always trying to take people on. When you play the way he does you get fouled a lot and you win a lot of free kicks. I will have to have a look at it but my gut reaction is that there wasn't enough contact. It would have been a bit soft, it's the kind you would be annoyed to have given against you. I can take it on the chin.
Reporter: And the next game Allied Omaha, what are your thoughts? Will you change anything around?
Sonny: Well after losing today all the games become must wins, so that's the way we will have to approach it. I need to go away and look at things before I make any decisions, but I always field my strongest players, that's the way I pick my teams. So we'll go away, have a bit of a rest, reflect on things as a team, and move on from there.
Reporter: Okay Jock thanks for talking to us. Best of luck in the next mach.
Sonny: You're welcome, good night.
by Super-Llamaland » Wed Feb 04, 2015 6:29 pm
Advertisement
Users browsing this forum: Riena
Advertisement