(Homeland)
Evening Edition
Samarcand Unveils Depkazi Association-Football Tournament
Khagan invests billions in stadia, transfer budgets
A new twelve-club professional association-football competition is set to become a key part of the Khagan's drive to rapidly modernise and enrich Depkazia, according to reports from the Registan, where Chingiz increasingly chooses to hold court.
New stadia are being constructed using a combination of vigorous Depkazi state industry and more experienced foreign contractors, chiefly from Gandvik, and the Khagan has earmarked several billion dollars in petrochemical revenues for both the development of domestic footballing academies and the acquisition of, 'top level' foreign football stars.
Chingiz has decreed that each of the twelve new clubs should be given the opportunity to sign at least one multi-million-dollar valued foreign player to spearhead their formative Depkazi teams. 'Centerpiece' players, it is reported, will be offered wages greater than those available in Europe's top leagues, as the DAFT attempts to hit the ground running with big-draw names. Intending also to foster domestic talent, the Khagan is reported to favour a cap on the number of foreign players that may appear in a match-day squad.
The first clubs to constitute the new competition will be drawn one from each of the Caliph's eleven principle subjects plus a twelfth from the capital. They are as follows:
1.FC Samarkand City
Thought to be Chingiz's favoured club, the capital-city side is rumoured to have an, 'effectively unlimited' transfer and salary budget and is pursuing some of Europe's top stars.
Dynamo Bukhara
Appearing to be pitched as 1.FC's hottest rivals, the Bukharan Khanate's second team gives a nod to the Celtic Communist state's state-organised fitness clubs, and early publicity campaigns seem to suggest an intended focus on home-grown talent.
Faithful Ak-Mechet
Representing Köktürük Khanate, ”The Millers” have been particularly successful in generating local interest with public events and advertising, their replica kit sales already under-way before a full squad has been announced by any DAFT club.
Aqtaw Isotopes
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Inside!:
*Lack of established grass-roots football infrastructure cited as likely fatal to DAFT scheme
”No grass-roots? Ridiculous! We will play above-ground!” -Khagan responds to naysayers
*East finally sees state investment up-tick
No more feeling neglected in the face of Gallaga's reconstruction aid and Qazaqstan's pipeline wealth; Köktürük gets a boost from new military facilities as additional troops add to consumer base, and a mysterious construction scheme brings investment to the shores of Ysyk Köl