Sajnur Sports Newswire

by **Sajnur** » Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:47 am

Welcome to Sajnur Sports newswires!

This topic will be for me to post news related to Sajnuran sports. This will be primarily related to Sajnuran domestic teams, currently consisting only of Sajnur's association football system, but may involve international sports and Sajnuran national teams as well. Others may only post with my permission.

by **Sajnur** » Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:55 am

Sajnur Premier League 2021

Pos                       P   W   D   L  For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Capitals Javoser      30  24   3   3   78  23  +55  75
 2 FK Khadur             30  18   3   9   64  34  +30  57
 3 Ciarkhan City         30  16   8   6   43  22  +21  56
 4 FK Bazugh             30  16   7   7   34  25   +9  55
 5 Stormers FC           30  15   5  10   58  49   +9  50
 6 Rivers Roskjepa       30  14   7   9   51  40  +11  49
 7 Javoser Pirates       30  13   8   9   47  42   +5  47
 8 Red Star Tisinar      30  12   8  10   38  40   -2  44
 9 Ka'in United          30   9   9  12   37  38   -1  36
10 FK Foaspra            30   8   8  14   26  33   -7  32
11 Tisinar United        30   8   8  14   27  36   -9  32
12 FC To'ma              30   8   6  16   25  46  -21  30
13 Border FC             30   6   9  15   24  33   -9  27
14 FC Mazigh             30   7   6  17   32  66  -34  27
15 Aqtan Beaches         30   3  16  11   19  35  -16  25
16 FK Dacurky            30   3   9  18   20  61  -41  18

Qualified for Champions Cup
Qualified for Globe Cup
Relegated to Sajnur Second League

Top four teams also invited to Dwile Invitational

Top Scorers

Andre Naulo (FK Khadur) - 31
Basuli Maktar (Capitals Javoser) - 28
Parjazu (Stormers FC) - 22
Jessica Siafik (Capitals Javoser) - 15
Ahmed Nazar (Ka'in United) - 13

Top Assisters

Jessica Siafik (Capitals Javoser) - 25
Dario Tule (FK Khadur) - 19
Sian Levici (Red Star Tisinar) - 14
Taulant Haji (Ciarkhan City) - 13
Silja Jorse (Stormers FC) - 10

Sajnur Second League 2021

Pos                      P   W   D   L  For  Ag  +/- Pts
 1 Jolazi City          30  18   5   7   53  34  +19  59
 2 Jaqa Island          30  17   6   7   45  30  +15  57
 3 FK Toucia            30  16   8   6   60  32  +28  56
 4 Anro United          30  16   4  10   38  35   +3  52
 5 Elherga City         30  11  14   5   29  25   +4  47
 6 Anarchists FC        30  13   6  11   59  43  +16  45
 7 FK Terson            30  12   8  10   41  30  +11  44
 8 FK Kasebil           30  10  11   9   24  25   -1  41
 9 Savannah FC          30  10   9  11   46  37   +9  39
10 North Osurgo         30  10   6  14   32  37   -5  36
11 South Osurgo         30   8  11  11   40  37   +3  35
12 Magji FC             30   9   8  13   29  32   -3  35
13 FK Vesjher           30   9   5  16   27  35   -8  32
14 Talkho FC            30   6  11  13   27  42  -15  29
15 Alahin FC            30   6   9  15   28  47  -19  27
16 Mountaineers FC      30   6   5  19   30  87  -57  23

Promoted to Sajnur Premier League; Qualified for Series B Cup
Qualified for Series B Cup

Sajnur Cup

First Round

South Osurgo 4-0 Red Star Tisinar (4-0 agg)

Capitals Javoser 1-1 Ka'in United (2-1 AET, 2-1 agg)

FK Dacurky 0-0 FK Khadur (0-2 AET, 0-2 agg)

Alahin FC 2-1 FK Vesjher (2-1 agg)

Tisinar United 1-0 Border FC (1-0 agg)

Rivers FC 2-0 North Osurgo (2-0 agg)

Magji FC 0-2 Ciarkhan City (0-2 agg)

Pirates 1-1 Jolazi City (1-2 AET, 1-2 agg)

FK Kasebil 0-1 FK Bazugh (0-1 agg)

FK Foaspra 0-1 Stormers FC (0-1 agg)

Savannah FC 1-0 Aqtan Beaches (1-0 agg)

FC To'ma 2-2 Anro United (2-3 AET, 2-3 agg)

FK Toucia 3-1 FC Mazigh (3-1 agg)

Elherga City 1-1 Anarchists FC (2-1 AET, 2-1 agg)

Talkho FC 1-1 Jaqa Island (1-1 AET, 1-1 agg, 4-1 PKs)

FK Terson 1-0 Mountaineers FC (1-0 agg)


Second Round

Jolazi City 5-1 Savannah FC (5-1 agg)

FK Terson 0-2 FK Khadur (0-2 agg)

FK Toucia 0-2 Ciarkhan City (0-2 agg)

Anro United 1-0 Elherga City (1-0 agg)

Rivers FC 0-2 Alahin FC (0-2 agg)

Talkho FC 0-2 FK Bazugh (0-2 agg)

Stormers FC 1-0 South Osurgo (1-0 agg)

Tisinar United 0-0 Capitals Javoser (0-1 AET, 0-1 agg)


Quarter Final

FK Bazugh 1-0 Jolazi City (1-0 agg)

Ciarkhan City 3-1 Capitals Javoser (3-1 agg)

Stormers FC 2-0 Anro United (2-0 agg)

Alahin FC 1-2 FK Khadur (1-2 agg)


Semi Final

FK Bazugh 0-0 Ciarkhan City (0-0 agg)
Ciarkhan City 1-1 FK Bazugh (1-1 agg) (FK Bazugh wins on away goals rule)

Stormers FC 3-0 FK Khadur (3-0 agg)
FK Khadur 3-1 Stormers FC (3-4 agg)


Final

Stormers FC 1-1 FK Bazugh (1-1 AET, 1-1 agg, 2-4 PKs)

FK Bazugh qualifies for the Cup Winners Cup

by **Sajnur** » Wed Oct 30, 2019 6:07 am

Sajnur Premier League: Season Review

The 21st season of the Sajnur Premier League was a watershed moment for the country's footballing infrastructure as it was also the first season in which teams from the country would participate in international competition. The Dwile Invitational Tournament gave four spots to the four best teams Sajnur had to offer, and as such the competition grew fiercer as there was more at stake. Indeed, this league had even more at stake as positions to the next UICA tournament, whose date is currently unconfirmed, could also be decided based on this season. For those international viewers, and new Sajnuran fans, who are unfamiliar with the league, it is a sixteen team league where the bottom two are relegated to the Sajnur Second League.

Title Contenders

Capitals Javoser

The defending champions are the biggest team in the biggest city. As the premier team of the capital, a metropolis of more than 12.5 million people, they have one of the biggest fanbases and one of the biggest chequebooks. They've won five titles in the first twenty seasons, including two of the last three, and as such were favourites to win this season too. Prodigious attacking talent props up a flamboyant and offensive style of play that is closely related to the national team's own flamboyance.

National Team Players

Jessica Siafik (CM/CF): Sajnur's captain and best player, ergo Capitals Javoser's captain and best player. Since the final merger of the mens and womens systems, perenially top of the assist charts. Pinpoint passing, scary shooting, dazzling dribbling, ferocious free kicks. Every attack goes through her. Sometimes smokes on pitch. Sometimes has chocolate cigars instead.

Salloah (LB/RB): Emerged as a contender for the left back spot in the national team after a stellar season. Fast, strong, good in the tackle. Confident going forward, but not bombastic.

Kaori Hajat (CDM/CB): A long time presence at the top of Sajnuran football, at centre back or defensive midfield. Good at every aspect of defence, and a reliable distributor of the ball too. Would be a sweeper in a bygone era.

Rowan Down (RW/CAM): A versatile forward player, with the ball skills to trick any defender. Can support any striker from wide or behind. Good on the cross, better cutting in. Can find a pass in the tightest of spaces.

Basuli Maktar (ST): Six feet, nine inches. Good luck out-jumping him in the box. Has a ferocious shot to match his aerial ability, and is somehow fast and good at dribbling too. Second choice at national level.

FK Khadur

Laghia is the heartland of football in Sajnur. Ciarkhan is the capital of Laghia, with more than 4.5 million people. FK Khadur is the biggest team in Ciarkhan. Mix it together and you get the most successful team in Sajnur. Seven titles in twenty seasons, and fighting to get what they believe is their rightful place at the top. Not as attack minded as Capitals, but still very capable of scoring goals.

National Team Players

Andre Naulo (ST): Sajnur's best striker. Consistently gets a goal per game or better. Lightning fast, untouchable on the ball, vicious finishing. Not bad in the air, either. Also a prodigious clubber.

Dario Tule (RM/RW): Possibly as fast as Naulo, absolutely as untouchable on the ball. Scores the odd goal, but that isn't his job. Tule's duty is to put left backs on their arses and to feed Naulo with crosses. Surprisingly good at defending, too, and thus sometimes seen at right mid in a three defender setup.

Piotr Laghiev (GK): A veteran of the game, even though he isn't even 30. Plays like a traditional keeper with an emphasis on positioning, but isn't averse to acrobatics or playing the ball to his defenders.

Hela Isarghie (LB): A lithe fullback, just 5'2", fast but not blistering. Uses her pace to good effect at both ends, but relies on positioning and skill in defence, and a good cross in attack. Just 20 years old, but will be battling for the national left back position for eternity.

Rivers Roskjepa

The Delta State upstarts threatening the Laghian establishment and the Javoser glamour. A fanbase that can intimidate machos and stone hearts alike. Along with cross town rivals Stormers FC, the best chants in the league, and the most flares too. Surged to the title in Season 19, to the gasps of millions, and were hungry for another. Plays more directly than Capitals, but still easy on the eye.

National Team Players

Kahala Murje (LB/CB): If there's ever a hero you need, Kahala Murje is the girl. Sent right wingers to oblivion during that title winning year, and assisted six goals to boot. Sent the commentators screaming on that day against Cosumar. Collects cards like it's a tabletop game, but has a game saving tackle to make up for each one and then some. Stronger than she is fast, but has a great cross and a distance shot to match. Somehow still a teenager, yet is the reason Isarghie will be on the national bench far more than she should.

Zain Hasan (CDM/CM): Strength and stamina, and a bit of speed too, Hasan is the quintessential box to box midfielder. Can run through a brick wall, then run through a marathon. Is best at the tackle, then the intercept, but is known for his fifty yard runs going through defenders. Not around them, through them. Can actually finish at the end, too, and often like a cannon.

Newly Promoted Teams

FC To'ma

FC To'ma finished second in Season 2 of the Sajnur Second League and the junior Tawqush team will be spending their first ever season in the top tier. They have no players at any level of the national setup, instead relying on established talent in their 20s and 30s. Widely considered relegation candidates, but were by no means certain to go down. Crosstown rivals to FC Mazigh, with the first ever Tawqush derby in the SPL played this season.

FK Foaspra

The sole professional football team in Western Sajnur, FK Foaspra are a perennial yo-yo team. Never finished lower than 6th in the Second League, but never finished higher than 10th in the SPL. Usually the most defensive team in Sajnur. While unlikely to concede excessively, they are still one of the favourites to go down.

National Team Players

Zoran Vastra: Capped at youth level, but is yet to be called up to the senior team. Relies more on skill than strength, preferring intercepts to tackles. Can sometimes be out-muscled by strong strikers, but doesn't get unto such situations easily.

Frederik Tjallor: Old by Sajnuran national team standards. Indeed, Alan Gharici is the only player older than Tjallor to be capped for Sajnur. An experinced and talented man, but has spent more time at the foot of the table than at the head. An important signing for Foaspra, as he is the foil to Vastra. One of the strongest players in Sajnur, tackles are his sustenance, and he will always leave the field with a heavily stained uniform. Also one of the foremost aerial battlers in the country.

How the season turned out

One thing was certain: Capitals Javoser dominated. Champions by eighteen points, they had by far the best attack, yet also had the best defence. Kaori Hajat made certain that the middle was impenetrable, and Salloah had another sensational season at fullback, invalidating wingers on both sides of the pitch. The metropolitan team made the Duke Isabel stadium a fortress, losing just once at home all season and was formidable away, too. Jessica Siafik had the season of her life, scoring fifteen goals from central midfield and assisting twenty-five more, meaning she had a foot in 40 of Capitals' 78 goals. FK Bazugh, who finished 4th, scored just 34 all season. Siafik only played 25 matches too, meaning she had an assist per game. With Basuli Maktar scoring 28 goals, and in only 24 matches at that, Capitals went on a 15 match winning streak that made them untouchable. 48 points in the first 17 matches. You just can't beat a team capable of such things. Probably their biggest assertion of power, however, came after being held to consecutive draws against Ciarkhan City and Javoser Pirates. Basuli Maktar scored four and Jessica Siafik assisted three as a visiting Stormers side challenging for international qualification was dismantled 6-0.

Other than the Capital dominance, this season of the SPL was unusually defensive. Backlines in the lower half of the table were tightened up at the expense of their offensive firepower, and thus scorelines by and large went down. However, this tactic worked far better for some than for others. FK Foaspra were one team to profit, finishing in 10th, equalling their best ever finish. Having been considered by many to be likely to drop back down, the defensive pairing of Zoran Vastra and Frederik Tjallor had a stellar season, conceding just 33 goals, one fewer than league runners up Khadur, and grinding their way to mid table. The other beneficiaries were FK Bazugh. A team bereft of attacking talent but with a top class goalkeeper in Alek Khadur, and Alan Gharici and Samuel Durghi marshalling the defence, Bazugh took the fourth and last international spot on the table, finishing fourth despite scoring just 34 goals all season.

Those who were let down by the defensive tactics include Border FC and Tisinar United, who finished 13th and 11th respectively. Both teams were aiming to grind their way to the top half of the table, but scoring below a goal per match proved costly for both teams as they languished in the lower reaches of the SPL. Alizer was forced to become a mere recycler of the ball as his defensive duties starved him of time in attack while Tatiana Pavlov was forced to step up and become the primary creative force in his place for Border FC. Over in Tisinar, Vasil Stoianov was starved of opportunities when played up front and could never get forward enough to cut inside when playing at left midfield. The team most adversely affected by defensive tactics, though, was Aqtan Beaches. While they conceded just 35 goals, they scored just 19. This meant they won just three matches all season, while drawing a whopping sixteen. The result? Relegation. Despite playing Alexis Sjoring at right back all season, they still had Sihano Kerero and Ben Tatro to carry the midfield, and Kabas Verjez was an excellent defender, but lead striker Tonde Marin scored just seven goals, and no other player scored more than three.

There was no other team that did worse overall than FK Dacurky, though. 20 goals scored, just one more than Beaches, and 61 conceded. No impetus in attack, yet no ability in defence. How woeful. Marko Arrelo is a capped international for Sajnur, yet he could only assist five goals and score two. Mind you, that's still a third of the team's goals all season. This team was doomed from the start. Having drawn 1-1 with FC To'ma, the only team in the league with no players having ever worn Sajnur's red and purple, they would lose their next seven, and despite some semblance of form mid season, they would fail to win any of their last 14 and were relegated with two matches to go. There was acute humiliation as well as chronic, as Capitals put five past them twice, and they were victim to the worst drubbing in the league, as they walked into High Tide stadium, saw the Stormers flares, and walked out having lost 9-1. Parjazu scored four, and Ella Ciuru put three past them as the pair of wingers tore them to shreds.

The award for worst defence of this season goes to FC Mazigh, who conceded 66 goals. Apart from them and Dacurky, no other team even conceded 50. The next worst defence was that of the Stormers, who let through 49 and still finished fifth. The Siyaka Island Stadium hosted the first Tawqush derby since the stadium was built, and the 66,000 fans saw the hosts lose 2-1 to FC To'ma, the home fans mood crashing down after they had beaten Rivers Roskjepa 5-3, and on the final matchday of the season the To'ma District Stadium would witness their team grind a 1-0 win to not only make certain their survival in the league, but also leapfrog Mazigh on the table. Mazigh themselves could have gone down, as the derby was the latest of an eight match losing streak that had seen them tumble down from mid table, but an Aqtan Beaches team in similarly cold form was forced to host Capitals Javoser, who beat them 3-0 to condemn them to the Second League. The worst symptoms of Mazigh's defensive woes include losing to Capitals 7-1, then loing to Stormers 6-3 a week later, then conceding 17 in four matches as both Javoser teams scored five on them in consecutive matches and Rivers did them in 5-0, with a 2-1 loss to Stormers in between.

The standout player of the season, in more ways than one, was Silja Jorse. Assisting ten goals, primarily from right back, and scoring six of her own, she helped a young Stormers side to fifth in the league, just missing out on the international spots. Her familiar blistering pace, accurate crosses, and intelligent set piece play more than justified the $8 million the Roskjepa side paid Anarchists FC and cemented her status as a future Sajnur star. Her defensive qualities are still to be questioned, as the Stormers did have the third worst defensive record in the league, but the Stormers are the most attacking side in the Premier League, and their use of attacking fullbacks is simply part of their philosophy.

by **Sajnur** » Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:20 pm

SPL 2022 Season Preview

Border FC

Stadium: Liberty Stadium (31,000)
Manager: Janina Tokhau (F, 46)
Transfers In: Emlyn Chilford (BRE, CDM, free from Falkner United [BRE])

Border FC are located in the city of Khagho, the second largest in Solmie State, and are so named for the city’s location on an international border. With the foreign influence that results from being an international crossroads, they’re a cosmopolitan club in a cosmopolitan and wealthy city, and are the premier club in their state. That doesn’t mean much, though, and they’ve never been higher than mid table.

Border failed to win any of their last eight matches in 2021 and scraped their way to 12th in the league. In response, they’ve invested in some depth, but the only notable transfer is the signing of free agent Emlyn Chilford, the Brenecian defensive midfielder brought in as a midfield anchor, a steady presence that makes few mistakes. Some may be concerned about signing someone from a relegated club, but the Brenecian A-League is a much higher standard than the Sajnuran Premier League, at least for now. Regardless, her presence will allow Alizer and Tatiana Pavlov more freedom to be creative. Whether the new depth players are good enough to cut it in the first division, their presence is welcome in a team whose starting XI has nine players aged 29 or older. Other than the two creative midfielders, the team is positively geriatric. Darjo Orasanni will need all the creativity he can get to score goals off his 33 year old feet, and Zoran Felci has long since lost the pace needed to operate in his preferred right wing position.

Starting XI (4-3-3)

GK: Andre Tarasov (M, 35)
RB: Basuli Soverici (M, 31)
CB: Matju Orje (M, 34)
CB: Samba Kone (M, 29)
LB: Anna Toriev (F, 29)
CDM: Emlyn Chilford (F, 32, Brenecia)
CM: Alizer (M, 26)
CM: Tatiana Pavlov (F, 20)
RW: Zoran Felci (M, 32)
ST: Darjo Orasanni (M, 33) [c]
LW: Elvir Gallo (M, 30)

Capitals Javoser

Stadium: Duke Isabel Stadium (68,000)
Manager: Sofia Oltu (F, 43)
Transfers Out: Jessica Siafik (CM/CAM/CF, $3.5m to Maal Angels [MRN])

Capitals Javoser. They’re the capital club in the capital city, and they know it. They brand themselves as “Sajnur’s Club” but their influence extends little past Javoser State. Nevertheless, they’re one of the biggest clubs, and along with FK Khadur one of the most successful. Their football is attractive, there are goals aplenty, and they command attention like little else.

Capitals romped to the title last season, winning by a scarcely believable eighteen points, scoring 78 goals in a season where defence otherwise reigned supreme, yet still conceding just 23. They’ve kept most of their talent in the midst of the SPL’s opening up to the broader international market, but there is one gaping hole that they will likely never completely fill: Jessica Siafik. The captain of the national team has taken her talismanic perfection to the Maal Angels, the Mrii club paying $3.5 million for the privilege. With Sajnur’s football darling off to bamboozle thick legged satyrs, Tassa Vojra, who is two years older than Siafik, will finally be integral in a title winning squad, and her frequent appearances last season when Siafik was appearing in Sajnur’s red and purple will hopefully have prepared for this. One gets the feeling, though, that she, or indeed anyone else, can’t replace the forty goals Siafik contributed to last season. Capitals have, however, kept their four other established internationals, including Basuli Maktar, scorer of 28 goals last season. Similar production from the resident giant will be of enormous help if “Sajnur’s Club” are to retain the title.

Starting XI (4-3-3)

GK: Natasha Kirai (F, 20)
RB: Lana Tartu (F, 24)
CB: Kaori Hajat (M, 26) [c]
CB: Paoli Savol (M, 27)
LB: Salloah (F, 26)
CDM: Metiria Ocango (F, 24)
CM: Alicia Marogo (F, 29)
CM: Tassa Vojra (F, 25)
RW: Rowan Down (M, 26)
ST: Basuli Maktar (M, 23)
LW: Ella Syrku (F, 22)

Notable Subs: Taradir (F, 19, CAM/CF)

Ciarkhan City

Stadium: Victory Stadium (59,000)
Manager: Dennis Atanasov (M, 60)
Transfers In: Hatu Raglan (RB/CB, $3m from Pirates)
Transfers Out: Tomasi Vuierev (CB/RB, $1m to FC Valleyboys [DAR]), Taulant Haji (RB/RM/LB/LM, $3m to FC Brimstone [APX])

Laghia’s bourgeoisie, without the history of the two traditional Ciarkhan clubs, but a favourite of middle class fans unwilling to jump into the intensity of Sajnuran football’s biggest rivalry but craving success regardless. The Victory Stadium, thus, isn’t as loud as the Niurka or Tariele Street, but any first time viewer will be very welcome here.

The best defence in the league, conceding just 22 goals, but an attack that left much to be desired meant they were able to secure a spot in the Dwile Invitational, but like everyone else they were left in the dust by Capitals. That defence has some turnover, with Tomasi Vuierev heading off to Darmen to help Valleyboys stave off relegation, replaced by a more expensive but younger Hatu Raglan from the Pirates. Taulant Haji has headed off to the Apoxian mid-table, and along with being a defender as well, sort of, he also assisted 13 of City’s 43 goals. The disappearance of his pace and crosses means that not only will Saina Voronin need to step up, but Daniel Kerlov and Piotr Basuliev will need to do much better than last season if City are to have a shot at the title. At the very least, the team’s defensive integrity should be secure since Raglan should be a more than able partner to team captain and fellow international Stefan Jana and the experienced Maia Berami.

Starting XI (3-4-3)

GK: Vladimir Iurevici (M, 25)
CB: Hatu Raglan (M, 20)
CB: Stefan Jana (M, 25) [c]
CB: Maia Berami (F, 28)
RM: Saina Voronin (F, 26)
CM: Tosian Vurlan (M, 29)
CM: Cirea Mornev (F, 26)
LM: Alan Jagoiev (M, 25)
RW: Daniel Kerlov (M, 26)
ST: Tatiana Sandu (F, 30)
LW: Piotr Basuliev (M, 29)

Notable Subs: Alan Kursiev (M, 17, GK), Franko Simunici (M, 20, CB/CDM)

FC Mazigh

Stadium: Siyaka Island (66,000)
Manager: Se’ad Karay (M, 50)
Transfers In: Kugha Mastric (GK, $500k from FK Khadur)

The bigger Tawqush club, they’ve traditionally been the big dogs of Asulian football, and their massive home is testament to that. However, Ka’in United has been stepping on their toes, and have lately had the upper hand. Regardless, fans turn out week after week to Siyaka Island, and they still believe they are Asulia’s best. They’re arguably Sajnur’s best when it comes to instruments.

Sixteen matches. That’s how long their winless streak is. Their last win was in Round 14 at Rivers. They won 5-3, having lost their previous two 7-1 and 6-3. They haven’t won since. They lost their last eight matches of the season, and had the league’s worst defence. It’s a miracle that they survived, and a testament to how impotent the two Aqtan clubs were. That winless streak is bookended by losses to cross town rivals To’ma, the SPL newcomers finishing two spots above them in 12th. Let alone being well behind Ka’in, how humiliating is this? They’ve attempted to rectify this by snagging youth international Kugha Mastric from Khadur to man the posts. Hopefully this will stem the tide. With Hassu Baraqa now 31, left wingers will have a field day against their fast declining pace, and Siaka Munjari is still their best defensive player, despite being 20 and a midfielder. At least Mazigh should be better up top, with Yinx Theo acquired from the Chromatik collegiate system, his distribution shown to be very good in the 42nd Di Bradini Cup. He’ll be the wide and fast foil for Tia Parci, the young central playmaker no longer alone in servicing Samuel Hakana with creativity.

Starting XI (4-3-3)

GK: Kugha Mastric (M, 23)
RB: Hassu Baraqa (O, 31) [c]
CB: Shahid Balkash (M, 33)
CB: Polja Totomika (F, 25)
LB: Amal Tawas (F, 24)
CDM: Siaka Munjari (M, 20)
CM: Tonde Sergeiev (M, 28)
CM: Tia Parci (F, 19)
RW: Yinx Theo (M, 23)
ST: Samuel Hakana (M, 27)
LW: Janni Belhanda (M, 25)

Notable Subs: Shahid Mollish (M, 17, CAM/RM), Isla Taider (F, 15, RM/CAM/RW)

FC To’ma

Stadium: To’ma District Stadium (32,000)
Manager: Taleb Araz (M, 37)
Transfers In: Mariele Schneider (VAL, CM, free from Night Academy [VAL])

The smaller Tawqush club, they’ve traditionally been a minnow of Sajnuran professional football, but have had a steady rise in the rankings. The club has its own corner of Tawqush, and given that the city has well over five million people, it’s more than enough to fill the stadium even when the rest of Siyaka Island supports Mazigh. Not as flashy as Mazigh, not as successful either, but the lack of expectations suits them.

Promotion in 2020 was a huge achievement for the club, and the expectation was merely to survive. That they did, and by beating their cross town rivals home, away, and in the league table, finishing a respectable 12th. As a club without the means of many others in the league, however, survival is once again the main concern, and with that in mind they have brought in foreign talent in the form of Mariele Schneider. The young central midfielder is fresh from Valanora’s Night Academy, and in a league like Sajnur’s, she should slot straight into To’ma’s starting lineup and provide creativity that was somewhat lacking, with only 25 goals scored in their inaugural top flight season. At the back, Salman Telemsen and Habib Feguli are showing their age at the helm of what was the fourth worst defence in the league, but Jehan Nazar (no relation to Ahmed) is maturing as part of the back three and in front of them Toljo Latvala is one of the most talented young midfielders in Sajnur, her excellent protection of the back three combined with accurate passing. The back three will have a hard time keeping To’ma afloat, though, if Latvala can’t save them.

Starting XI (3-1-4-2)

GK: Aras Hilal (M, 30)
CB: Jehan Nazar (M, 26)
CB: Salman Telemsen (M, 33) [c]
CB: Habib Feguli (M, 32)
CDM: Toljo Latvala (F, 18)
RM: Tomas Matbil (M, 22)
CM: Mariele Schneider (F, 16, Valanora)
CM: Amal Davesh (F, 25)
LM: Sa’an Qalla (M, 26)
ST: Khalid Abadol (M, 29)
ST: Safiya Tamsawi (F, 24)

FK Bazugh

Stadium: Tariele Street (56,000)
Manager: Alina Saburin (F, 49)
Transfers In: Sihano Kerero (CM/CDM/CAM, $500k from Aqtan Beaches), Anders Berzins (COS, GK, free from Fevelo Colony [COS])

One side of the Ciarkhan Classic derby, Bazugh was a big force in the earlier seasons of Sajnuran football, but have struggled to find success in recent years, especially with the rise of Ciarkhan City and the two Roskjepa clubs. Traditionally a more muscular side than their cross city rivals, but always with enough sharpness to be a Sajnuran powerhouse. Less bouncer, more bodyguard.

Top four security without any real hope of winning the league. While last season that was what all the top teams bar Capitals could hope for, it’s been a familiar feeling for Bazugh over the last few seasons, and in a season with fewer goals across the league, Tariele Street was really starving for them. Just 34 goals scored is an indictment on the football the team exhibited, and it’s thanks to their defence that their presence in the top four is perpetuated. On the other hand, they beat Stormers on penalties to win the Sajnur Cup, so the silverware cabinet isn’t left hungry. Alan Gharici is now 36, but is still as smart and as strong as ever, and the captain has Sorana Boroghel to do the hard running for him. Fellow ex-international Samuel Durghi will continue to give right side attackers trouble, but Alina Saburin has brought Anders Berzins from Cosumar to man the posts and give the back four some more assurance. What of the offensive woes, though? Well the front three remains the same, and it’s the service that has been updated, with Sihano Kerero bought from relegated Beaches. She may be a capped international, but one may still wonder if it’s smart to look for offensive inspiration from a team that scored just 19 goals.

Starting XI (4-3-3)

GK: Anders Berzins (M, 32, Cosumar)
RB: Ricard Gans (M, 31)
CB: Alan Gharici (M, 36) [c]
CB: Sorana Boroghel (F, 29)
LB: Samuel Durghi (M, 30)
CDM: Indereis (F, 24)
CM: Sihano Kerero (F, 24)
CM: Raika Tifa (O, 27)
RW: Ghiannis Semeru (M, 24)
ST: Taulant Feizuli (M, 29)
LW: Rebecca Mansell (F, 22)

Notable Subs: Hela Samedov (F, 18, RM/CM/RB)

FK Foaspra

Stadium: Stadium of the West (27,000)
Manager: Emanuel Rusje (M, 55)

Western Sajnur’s only football club in the Sajnuran national system, they play football like a typical frontier club: hard, brash, and sometimes bloody. Typically the most defensive team in Sajnur, the focus has always been on keeping the ball out of their own goal, and relative to the other clubs, the Westerners have little concern for the “goals for” column. Foaspran weather is windy, and visiting teams are often miserable.

Promotion in 2020 was followed by the acquisition of capped international Frederik Tjallor to captain the team and pair up with ex-U21 player Zoran Vastra in the back line. This was followed by a stunning 10th place finish, the team dragged there by the tied-4th best defence in the league. Emanuel Rusje is clearly satisfied with this, and as such Foaspra have not made any notable changes to the team. The objective will be to remain a solid mid table side, and Tjallor and Vastra are by far the most important parts of that ambition, with Tjallor’s strength and aerial prowess complemented by Vastra’s relative pace. Protected by the combative Marko Tjelo and astute Maria Bereq, expect more of the same lockdown defence. Even Foaspra has to score goals, though, and it’s once again up to Mikel Rjanno to do that. He scored ten last season, and in a team like this that may be enough for comfortable safety this season too. Vladimir Norilov is the team’s attacking midfielder and he will have to help Rjanno in the box and score some himself too, but the primary creator in midfield is Bereq, her vision from deep needed to pick out the fast Paul Ferrell and the tricky Henri Kabo on the wings. Rjanno will be relying on their crosses just as much as Norilov for the few goals that he can give to Foaspra.

Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

GK: Worgul (M, 28)
RB: Nina Serje (F, 31)
CB: Zoran Vastra (M, 23)
CB: Frederik Tjallor (M, 32) [c]
LB: Tirigo Sondai (M, 23)
CDM: Marko Tjelo (M, 26)
CDM: Maria Bereq (F, 27)
RM: Henri Kabo (M, 27)
LM: Paul Ferrell (M, 24)
CAM: Vladimir Norilov (M, 23)
ST: Mikel Rjanno (M, 30)

FK Khadur

Stadium: Niurka Stadium (73,000)
Manager: Hanna Tolacki (F, 36)
Transfers Out: Andre Naulo (ST, $4m to Northern Stallions [BRE]), Dario Tule (RM/RW, $1m to Hamiltonian Cambria [KSK]), Kugha Mastric (GK, $500k to Mazigh)

The other side of the Ciarkhan Classic, Khadur are a freer, more swashbuckling side, not to the degree of Capitals, but certainly exciting even by Sajnuran standards. While Bazugh will always be their traditional rival, the matchup with Capitals Javoser is the one that catches the eyes of the nation.

Khadur would never have expected to be out of the title race so early, but no one could compete with the sheer force of nature that is Jessica Siafik, and thus Khadur were quickly in a race for second. They won, but not really. There is no silverware for being runner up, and Bazugh took the Sajnur Cup, so Hanna Tolacki will be ever more hungry for success. The departure of Siafik to Mriin’s Maal Angels may herald a unique opportunity for Khadur to return to the top step of glory, but it’s the Ciarkhan side that have arguably been weakened more by the transfer window. Andre Naulo has left for Brenecia, becoming one of the A-League’s highest paid players, and unexpectedly for a higher transfer fee than Siafik, meaning Polna Viskorov has to fill a 31 goal sized hole in the attack. Given that Khadur only scored 64 last season, this will be an almighty task. This won’t be helped at all by the departure of Dario Tule, his sheer pace, not to mention his 19 assists, leaving for Kelssek. Ghiannis Durres is more assured in defence than Tule, but he won’t be anywhere near as effective in attack, and Tolacki will have to transition away from a speed based style of play. Good news comes in the promotion of youth internationals Hela Isarghie and Piotr Hojaiev to the starting lineup, and their youth should help keep Khadur’s football exciting. Opportunities abound, but are Khadur in a position to take them?

Starting XI (3-1-4-2)

GK: Piotr Laghiev (M, 30) [c]
CB: Iuri Sandu (M, 31)
CB: Johar Kalosi (M, 24)
CB: Toria Foderski (F, 25)
CDM: Piotr Hojaiev (M, 19)
RM: Ghiannis Durres (M, 25)
CM: Ghasina Nenets (F, 34)
CM: Tonde Urengiev (M, 29)
LM: Hela Isarghie (F, 21)
ST: Polna Viskorov (F, 25)
ST: Dosuri Vlakhia (F, 30)

Notable Subs: Olah Pracia (M, 17, CB)

Jaqa Island

Stadium: Jaqa Island Stadium (30,000)
Manager: Aleksei Finsa (M, 67)
Transfers In: Seira Muchiko (HIN, LM/LB/CB/CM, free from Imperial Forces Academy [HIN])

The team from Qurqem, the Archipelago State’s second city, they’re named instead for the island that the city (which still has around two million people) sits on, and having their own island for support helps with the support and thus the stadium atmosphere, complete with plenty of musical instruments as is the Archipelago way.

The first of two promoted teams alphabetically, the second of two in terms of last season’s Second League ladder, Jaqa Island will be expecting survival. Nothing more, nothing less. A usually more attacking side, it was their defence that secured their promotion, being tied-3rd best in the league, and Alexei Finsa has brought in further improvement in the form of Seira Muchiko, a Hinodejin starlet from her country’s army university team. Capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch, the versatile player has pace for days and a bit of strength too. Not all that much finesse, but that’s to be expected when a relegation candidate recruits from an army team. No other transfers for the Islanders, but they’ve kept their two youth internationals, which is just as important if they are to win any matches. Moruk is one of Sajnur’s best young strikers, and he put nineteen in the net last season. Will he put sixteen more in this season? Only time will tell, but the answer will be a definite “no” if Mursata gets stopped by Premier League defences. Of his twelve assists last season, seven were to Moruk, and their mononymic partnership is, frankly, closer and more important than the actual strike partnership between Moruk and Ingrid Kayal. Mind you, Kayal herself scored twelve, and she will want to get double figures again this season.

Starting XI (4-4-2)

GK: Haqla Zherel (F, 26) [c]
RB: Khalas Gesher (M, 29)
CB: Bilal Shahran (M, 28)
CB: Hatan Jaziri (M, 25)
LB: Seira Muchiko (F, 21, Kita-Hinode)
RM: Mursata (M, 19)
CM: Jasmin Khateb (F, 24)
CM: Khorisa Amur (F, 23)
LM: Maryam Turqau (F, 23)
ST: Moruk (M, 20)
ST: Ingrid Kayal (F, 22)

Javoser Pirates

Stadium: Independence Stadium (62,000)
Manager: Olivia Altunov (F, 48)
Transfers In: Darren Ferror (NPH, CB, free from South Laithland [NPH]), Tristan Milner (BRE, RM, free from Chafford [BRE]), Ana Laursen (BRE, LB, free from Bedha English [BLN]), Meiki Fukuhara (HIN, RB/LB, free from Uchina State University [HIN]), Rei Mukuma (HIN, CB, free from Uchina State University [HIN]), Evan Jefferson (XAN, GK, free from Delano City SC [XAN])
Transfers Out: Hatu Raglan (RB/CB, $3m to Ciarkhan City), David Kiral (LB/LM, free to Zoe Eisetsu [HIN])

As befits their name, the second capital club are a swashbuckling team who provide much merry and swipe many goals, with a style of play as flamboyant as their arch rivals, although usually more direct. They’re the jesters of the league, and are emblematic of Sajnur’s free spirit like little else. If FC Mazigh provides the best instruments, the Pirates provide the best chants.

Javoser Pirates have lived up to their name off the pitch during the off season, raiding six players from the global free agency market, four of whom slot straight into the starting eleven. Most notably, manager Olivia Altunov has given a $20,000 a week contract to “retired” Xannerian international goalkeeper Evan Jefferson for the season. The Xannerian hasn’t played club football abroad, and I dare say he hasn’t seen such a contract before. Regardless, he will almost certainly be one of the league’s best keepers, and for a side like the Pirates he will be vital if they want to become a truly successful side. In front of him, Nepharan Darren Ferror arrives from the Nepharan second tier to replace Hatu Raglan, his experience replacing the Sajnuran international’s talent and his method coming from the Tjallor school of defending. The 3-5-2 gets a new pair of wings with Tristan Milner coming from the foot of Brenecia’s A-League and pacy but aging Ana Laursen from wherever the hell Blaneu is. Regardless, they’re an assertion of the Pirate way, with Milner being a box to box midfielder being utilised in a position usually occupied by wingbacks and Ana Laursen, while an actual fullback, known for partaking in forward adventures with wanton disregard for safety that would make Silja Jorse proud. The only Sajnuran of note in the team is Jasmina, the creative fulcrum of the team and thus the main central supplier of strikers Hayder Sinan and Burisse, although many will expect their primary sustenance to be from wide crossing.

On the bench sits two Hinodejin prospects. The more exciting prospect is Meiki Fukuhara, hired to provide cover for the two international “wingbacks”. He fits in the metaphorical space between them, with more pace than Milner and more ball skills than Laursen, but he’s more creative than both of them, and thus the Pirates should have a plentiful supply of crosses no matter the situation. Tagging along is his girlfriend Rei Mukuma, a centre back with plenty of muscle but bereft of skill, not that Altunov will care all that much. Will they make the top four? With an extra paragraph required for all their free transfers, it’s the least they could do to pay us back.

Starting XI (3-5-2)

GK: Evan Jefferson (M, 36, Xanneria)
CB: Ovari Gallas (M, 27)
CB: Darren Ferror (M, 30, Nephara)
CB: Carlos Virunga (M, 26)
CDM: Paysha Gellor (F, 30)
CDM: Osman Tanjaru (M, 27)
RM: Tristan Milner (M, 31, Brenecia)
LM: Ana Laursen (F, 34, Nephara)
CAM: Jasmina (F, 23)
ST: Hayder Sinan (M, 29)
ST: Burisse (O, 31) [c]

Notable Subs: Meiki Fukuhara (M, 21, RB/LB, Kita-Hinode), Rei Mikuma (F, 21, CB, Kita-Hinode)

Jolazi City

Stadium: Sandy Road (28,000)
Manager: Tjingu (M, 42)

Jolazi. The Delta State’s second city. Jolazi City. The Delta State’s third football club. Overshadowed by the Roskjepa derby, overshadowed by Roskjepa as a whole. To the north in geography, to the south in prestige.

Normally a humdrum club sitting in the northern part of The Delta, Jolazi City have made splashes in the second division and now they have the promotion they’ve been waiting for. Under Tjingu’s stewardship, they dominated the Second League for most of the season, but they roll in to this season in ice cold form, having lost their last five and only taking the title on the last day after Jaqa Island and FK Toucia lost to ‘Anro United and Elherga City respectively, having each only taken six points in their previous four. They can’t afford such collapses in form if they are to stay up.

Their two starting youth internationals are largely there to keep the team solid, though both have some creative force up their sleeve. Tendai Sandorov will be responsible for marshalling the right flank and using his pace and strength to help Jondu Djira in attack, while Samson Kaljo is the fulcrum of the midfield, next to the creative leader and captain Tassiga, and in front of holding midfielder Alan Azimul. Up front, it will be Djira’s pace and Daria Syrku’s tricks on either side of poacher Djasinda. On the bench is U-18 forward Makazole, who will be getting his first proper test of top flight senior football.

Starting XI (4-3-3)

GK: Gamal Paris (O, 29)
RB: Tendai Sandorov (M, 21)
CB: Paitim Shando (M, 28)
CB: Anya Gellor (F, 25)
LB: Ingrid Tojsa (F, 21)
CDM: Alan Azimul (M, 26)
CM: Samson Kaljo (M, 22)
CM: Tassiga (F, 25) [c]
RW: Jondu Djira (M, 28)
ST: Djasinda (F, 29)
LW: Daria Syrku (F, 24)

Notable Subs: Makazole (M, 15, RW/ST)

Ka’in United

Stadium: Peace Lane (51,000)
Manager: Manal Kotar (O, 44)

Ka’in United’s rivalry with Mazigh has only grown with their fortunes, and they are now the best club in the Asulian states. As Mazigh slips down into relegation fights, Ka’in has laid a solid base in mid table and the fans have aspirations for more. Like their insular rivals, the Ka’in fans spare no extravagance when it comes to the instruments, and every home match is a mini festival. The football is equally extravagant, with much pace and many goals.

Last season was distinctly mediocre. A 9th place finish was comfortable, and largely meets Ka’in’s expectations nowadays, but just 36 points meant they were as close to the relegated Beaches as they were to the 7th place Pirates. Indeed, after 25 matches they were 12th, behind newly promoted Foaspra and a collapsing Mazigh side. For a normally swashbuckling side, 37 goals is disappointing, and while Ahmed Nazar’s individual return of 13 is still good, he’ll be hoping for more this season. It’ll be up to Erbasin and Naqturuz to help him out, however, if the North Asulian side are to get back to their free scoring ways. On the other hand, the defence wasn’t bad last season, although that could be due to the general defensive trend. Wasim Dubra is good behind the sticks, and youth international Kenny Varanon will be a capable understudy. Kagashe and Layla Shinwar were excellent at neutralising wingers, and the latter also provided good impetus in attack, and given her usual form, Shinwar will be getting forward a lot more this season. Ka’in will one day hope to compete for a top four position, but for now it’s the top eight that will be a realistic goal.

Starting XI (4-3-3)

GK: Wasim Dubra (M, 33)
RB: Kagashe (M, 23)
CB: Khaled Wahid (M, 25)
CB: Alek Borovici (M, 26)
LB: Layla Shinwar (F, 20)
CDM: Maryam Taslom (F, 35)
CM: Pares Nabul (F, 27)
CM: Fawzi Doqan (M, 24)
RW: Naqturuz (M, 30)
ST: Erbasin (F, 26)
LW: Ahmed Nazar (M, 25) [c]

Notable Subs: Kenny Varanon (M, 18, GK)

Red Star Tisinar

Stadium: Supernova Stadium (37,000)
Manager: Feruz Amir (M, 61)

An astronomy themed club with leftist political overtones, this club likes to shoot for the stars, or at least shoot for the goal, but they’re a mid table staple of the top tier. Their stadium has a mini observatory and inbuilt fireworks, and they were one of the biggest opposition organisations when Laghia was under authoritarian rule, and are now the biggest Laghian football club outside of Ciarkhan.

Another season, another mid table finish. Once again they threatened the lower end of the established top order, but eighth was their destiny. Sian Levici was his usual self, scoring ten and assisting fourteen, but the team as a whole scored just 38, and while they should score more this season, that will likely be part of a return to the mean for the whole league and the captain and first team international will need help from his comrades if they are to make progress toward the international places. Their defence, however, can’t afford to concede too much more than the 40 of last season, and Giorge Iajevici will have to continue being an international standard insurance policy for the back three. Will they reach the stars? Will they crash back to Earth?

Starting XI (3-5-2)

GK: Giorge Iajevici (M, 22)
CB: Alek Marin (F, 30)
CB: Simon Tarasov (M, 26)
CB: Olga Khari (F, 29)
CDM: Nikolas Samaras (M, 24)
CDM: Elvir Stannis (M, 33)
RM: Tofin Sjuriga (F, 28)
LM: Natasha Goranici (F, 30)
CAM: Sian Levici (M, 27) [c]
ST: Stacia Felsov (F, 24)
ST: Ianina Ciansa (F, 23)

Rivers Roskjepa

Stadium: Queen Haqla Stadium (60,000)
Manager: Madeleine Vatanen (F, 34)
Transfers In: Kabas Verjez (CB/CDM, $2m from Aqtan Beaches)
Transfers Out: Kahala Murje (LB/CB, $11m to OAS Royal FC [COS])

The team of the rivers that flow through Sajnur, the flow harnessed into the energy that powers the city and the football. Always looking for goals, always with force to break any wall, any dam. To go with the force of water on the field, the fans bring the force of fire. The Roskjepa derby is the most flare heavy in Sajnur, yet the biggest fire is the fans’ passion, one that cannot be put out by mere water.

Rivers Roskjepa are the last non-Capitals team to win the title, but while the Javoser giants have gone back to back, Rivers finished last season in 6th. It’s been two years since a 16 year old Kahala Murje took Sajnur by storm, supplying the defensive solidity Rivers needed to win their first ever league title, and breathing life not only into Roskjepa, but into Sajnur as a whole. Murje, now 18, is now Sajnur’s best defender, but she’s not the best defender in Sajnur, as Cosumarite icons OAS Royal have bought her in a blockbuster $11 million deal. To replace her will be fellow U-21 international Kabas Verjez, arriving from relegated Aqtan Beaches for $2 million. Next to him will be the fast, and fast improving, Tassa Inatje, and the solid Miralem Iraske, and protecting them is another Sajnuran top dog, and team captain, in Zain Hasan, and Jondu Santo. Goals will be no problem, with Kaira Njalesk an experienced operator at this level and Zuzu and Valon Postelon likely to get more success, not to mention Hasan’s own goal scoring prowess. Out wide, Aslan Zingu and Khoren Galici patrol their respective flanks and feed the strikers with crosses.

Starting XI (3-5-2)

GK: Samba Karjo (M, 20)
CB: Tassa Inatje (F, 23)
CB: Kabas Verjez (M, 21)
CB: Miralem Iraske (M, 24)
CDM: Zain Hasan (M, 25) [c]
CDM: Jondu Santo (F, 24)
RM: Aslan Zingu (F, 27)
LM: Khoren Galici (M, 28)
CAM: Valon Postelon (M, 25)
ST: Kaira Njalesk (F, 29)
ST: Zuzu (M, 24)

Stormers FC

Stadium: High Tide Stadium (53,000)
Manager: Kayla Dosarya (F, 33)

Whereas Rivers Roskjepa are next to the river ports, Stormers are right on the coast, named for the sea storms that batter the sea ports. Yes, Roskjepa has two port complexes, and both major football stadiums are near one. Regardless, the Stormers’ support is like a storm of its own, often a firestorm with how many flares they bring, and the players bring their own storm to the pitch.

Ella Ciuru. Parjazu. Cristiano Karaji. Silja Jorse. The four U-21 internationals, the Four Horsemen, the Fantastic Four. Two inside forwards, two wingbacks. Together they make up the best attacking unit in Sajnuran football. With Jessica Siafik now in Mriin and Andre Naulo heading for Brenecia, it’s not even close. Mirjavor is their striker, and yet she plays third fiddle to the two who flank her shoulders. Parjazu scored 22 goals last season, and assisted four. Ciuru scored another twelve, and assisted eight. Karaji whipped in six assists and swiped a couple of goals for himself. Silja Jorse? Assisted ten, and scored six. Three were from free kicks, but she’s at least nominally a defender, and defenders don’t contribute to sixteen goals in a season. That is, unless your Silja Jorse. Of course, having wide defensive players go forward so much results in poor defence, and the Stormers were third worst, but I suspect Kayla Dosarya doesn’t especially care. Both wingbacks are improving in that regard, and Jorse is still seventeen. Ciuru is only 18 herself, Karaji 20, and Parjazu 21. A great future awaits the Stormers, or at least many millions in international transfer fees.

Starting XI (3-4-2-1)

GK: Jallai (M, 23)
CB: Hassu Dinje (M, 26)
CB: Cirea Altinov (M, 25)
CB: Tovarish (O, 23)
RM: Silja Jorse (F, 17)
CM: Tendai Valeron (M, 26)
CM: Samba Oran (F, 24)
LM: Cristiano Karaji (M, 20)
CF: Parjazu (O, 21)
CF: Ella Ciuru (F, 18) [c]
ST: Mirjavor (F, 23)

Notable Subs: Oshla Qarinasi (M, 23)

Tisinar United

Stadium: Tonje Stadium (35,000)
Manager: Evgeni Akuilani (M, 46)
Transfers In: Fiji Nobunaga (HIN, CB/CDM, free from Centre for Excellence [APX])

The less political, or at least less communist, Tisinar club. The fan base isn’t quite as die-hard as Red Star’s, but with this being Laghia the support is still strong. Traditionally a more defensive team by Sajnuran standards, the footballing identity is one of balance.

Last season’s positive? Defence. Last season’s negative? Attack. Where do they reinforce? Defence. Specifically, Fiji Nobunaga, a Hinodejin international centre back they acquired from Apox’s Centre of Excellence. Clearly they’re banking on preventing offensive reinforcement from other teams from affecting them. Nobunaga clearly has the build to push any striker off the ball, and he has the talent to stop faster attackers too. Probably the strongest player in the league now, he has the muscle to propel his bulk into opponents legs, but also high into the air. You’d think he’d be a better fit in Foaspra, but Tisinar clearly decided some strength was important to their balance. Offensively, they’re still trusting in Aron Khari and Sian Markelov up front, and Vasil Stoianov inverted on the left. Khari is 35, but he has never relied on pace. How long will he keep playing? Will he score more than last season’s six goals? Will Markelov improve on the eight he scored?

Starting XI (4-4-2)

GK: Liam Stoner (M, 30)
RB: Dosuri Avarici (F, 24)
CB: Fiji Nobunaga (M, 21, Kita-Hinode)
CB: Tomas Pavlov (M, 29)
LB: Mateu Astider (M, 24)
RM: Giselle Prost (F, 25)
CM: Stefan Anjirev (M, 23)
CM: Tatiana Felsov (F, 32)
LM: Vasil Stoianov (M, 30) [c]
ST: Aron Khari (M, 35)
ST: Sian Markelov (M, 28)

by **Sajnur** » Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:20 pm

SSL 2022 Season Preview

Alahin FC

Stadium: Unity Stadium (27,000)
Manager: Lazar Ankov (M, 41)

Despite being in Solmie's capital, they are firmly the state's second club, the more affluent Border team having the lion's share of good players, and thus the lion's share of the state's support.

Second from bottom last season, not much reason to believe they'll do better. Anzoroi's promotion to the starting lineup is promising, but mid table is the best they can possibly hope for.

Key Players: Anzoroi (M, 17, GK), Shabur Revan (M, 24, CAM/CM, [c])

Anarchists FC

Stadium: The Commune (21,000)
Manager: Pjorelintu (O, 33)

The only club in the Sajnuran Football League system not based in a major city. As their name and the name of their stadium suggests, they're in a massive anarchist commune. Ultra attacking football, even by Sajnuran standards. Silja Jorse played here before Stormers poached her.

Second best attack in an unusually defensive league last season, their top half status is basically bolted on, but actual promotion is still a long shot. Olga Turei scored 27 goals last season, best in the league, and there's no reason why she can't do it again if playmaker Batrakha keeps giving her opportunities.

Key Players: Olga Turei (F, 17, ST), Batrakha (F, 22, CM/CAM/CDM [c])

'Anro United

Stadium: The Lighthouse (20,000)
Manager: Siad Qatra (M, 40)

The Archipelago's third city, and with Jaqa Island's promotion the state's fourth team. Constantly struggling for relevance as a result.

In a competitive league, they fell just short of promotion and the now cancelled UICA Series B Cup, and being bereft of goals for a team so high up the table definitely contributed to that. Ra'if Gebre will need to score more than the 12 he achieved last season to push the team into the Premier League, and Dora Markovici will need to maintain her stewardship of the team's solid defence too.

Key Players: Dora Markovici (F, 20, CB/CDM, [c]), Ra'if Gebre (M, 27, ST)

Aqtan Beaches

Stadium: South Coast Stadium (43,000)
Manager: Gavrilo Miller (M, 51)
Transfers Out: Sihano Kerero (CM/CDM/CAM, $500k to FK Bazugh), Kabas Verjez (CB/CDM, $2m to Rivers Roskjepa)

A big city team with big city cachet, the fanbase is proud and loud and high as a cloud. Yes, when your city has the country's biggest beach culture, there's bound to be a sniff of weed on the pitch. Jessica Siafik would've been a good fit here.

Oh how a team falls. An above average defence in a league with fewer goals than usual, but those goals completely deserted Aqtan's attack. In 30 matches, they scored just nineteen goals. Striker Tonde Marin top scored... with seven. How a star studded midfield such as Aqtan's did so poorly in creating chances will be a question that puzzles historians for many years, and that will be a whole lot harder now that Sihano Kerero's been sold to Bazugh. Good luck getting back to the big time.

Key Players: Alexis Sjoring (M, 29, RB/CM, [c]), Ben Tatro (M, 27, CM/RM), Tonde Marin (M, 24, ST)

Elherga City FC

Stadium: Elherga City Stadium (36,000)
Manager: Tomas Horus (M, 60)
Transfers In: Tatsuma Sakamoto (HIN, CB/CDM/CM, free from University of the Pacific [HIN])

South Asulia's one and only professional football team. Mountain savannah views from the stadium, which really needs a more creative name. Makes an excellent concert venue, especially during football matches.

If there was one team that could've benefitted from more goals than 'Anro, it was Elherga. Just 29 goals in 30 matches, and they still finished 5th. They had the best defence in the league, with only the even more goal averse Kasebil matching their 25 goals conceded. As a result, Elherga had Fourteen draws! If they win half of those matches, the Second League title comes with them. That would still only require the team to score 36 goals. 9th place Savannah scored 46. Wooden spoon Mountaineers scored 30. What does Elherga do in the transfer window? Hire Tatsuma Sakamoto, a defender from Kita-Hinode. Albeit one who can play midfield, but still. Maybe Horus is hoping playing from the back will help the goal woes?

Key Players: Nelson Baziru (M, 16, RB/RM/CB), Tatsuma Sakamoto (M, 21, CB/CDM/CM, Kita-Hinode), Gjuka (M, 18, CB [c])

FK Dacurky

Stadium:Dacurky Stadium (30,000)
Manager: Ileana Ajara (F, 47)
Transfers In: Tai Mizuno (HIN, CM/CAM/ST, free from Kameria University [HIN]), Gim Ji-Eun (HIN, CF/ST/CAM/CM, free from Togene Girls Academy [HIN])
Transfers Out: Marko Arrelo (RM/CAM, free to Raynor City FC (VAL)

The other Aqtan side, and one with less cannabis thanks to the Dacurky suburb not being in sight of the beach. The lack of ganja lends the team to a more aggressive play style, though not necessarily more pleasing to the eye. Maybe it's just the sobriety.

All the goal scoring problems of Beaches, and none of the defensive acumen. It's a twofer of trap door travails for the South Coast twins, and it's FK that was the most terrible of the two. They haven't won in fourteen, and with team captain Marko Arrelo off to Valanora for higher paying relegation campaign, a return to the top may not be straightforward. In to help are a pair of Hinodejin university graduates, Tai Mizuno replacing Arrelo as playmaker and Gim Ji-Eun up front. With no defensive reinforcement, though, they may not hold enough air to rise up.

Key Players: Tai Mizuno (M, 21, CM/CAM/ST, Kita-Hinode), Gim Ji-Eun (F, 21, CF/ST/CAM/CM, Kita-Hinode)

FK Kasebil

Stadium: Radolina Stadium (26,000)
Manager: John Sabbitt (M, 54)
Transfers: Annie Sioux (CMT, CB, free from University of the Islands [CMT])

In Javoser State, but not Javoser City. If you live in Kasebil, you're a fierce supporter who believes merely living in the actual capital makes you a glory hunter. If you don't live in Kasebil, you probably don't know they exist.

How does a mid-table side score 0.8 goals per match in Sajnur? Start off by playing five at the back, and then refuse to use the ball in any meaningful way. Good for grinding out goals, terrible for audience excitement. Makes you wonder why they even bothered? Clearly Grifrys Olise, their best defender, thought so too and promptly sodded off to Toucia to look for success and serotonin. In his place is Chromatik university graduate Annie Sioux, who's considered to be a pretty good prospect all things considered. But they need goals, gawd dammit!

Key Players: Chupa (M, 28, GK [c]), Annie Sioux (F, 22, CB, Chromatika)

FK Terson

Stadium: Zampra Stadium (25,000)
Manager: Aki (F, 36)
Transfers: Masumi Kawata (HIN, RM, free from Somei-Yoshino University [HIN])

Javoser's fourth team, and thus the team for those who want the insularity of being a Kasebil supporter but don't want to actually move to Kasebil.

Painfully average in almost every way, yet somehow they poached a Hinodejin prospect in the transfer window. One can only imagine Masumi Kawata's disappointment upon turning up to Javoser's fourth team. At least she didn't end up in Kasebil.

Key Players: Ambano Kleber (O, 26, CDM/CM [c]), Masumi Kawata (F, 21, RM, Kita-Hinode)

FK Toucia

Stadium: Malt Street (32,000)
Manager: Mayra Sulo (F, 40)

Ciarkhan's fourth team, but then the city has the fanbase to support four teams. For a team with little time in the top flight, a surprisingly decent fanbase. One to look out for if you want a cosy yet vibrant experience.

So close to promotion. Most goals with 60 (and somehow the only team to score two per game) but pipped to the post by Jolazi and Jaqa Island. They've poached Grifrys Olise from Kasebil and hope he will provide the solidity to push them over the line this time.

Key Players: Grifrys Olise (M, 23, CB), Dario Mirkha (M, 23, RW/RM/RB [c]), Vadur Flotrin (M, 19, ST)

FK Vesjher

Stadium: Mare Nostrum (23,000)
Manager: Moki Bjarna (M, 56)
Transfers: Hiroshi Tamazaki (HIN, LB/LM/CB/RB, free from Nashihana University [HIN])

The North Coast state's only representation in professional football. There's a reason the most famous sporting venue in the state is the Darjengo racing circuit.

Finishes 13th in the league; gets a Hinodejin youth anyway. Defender Hiroshi Tamazaki gets a cushy contract in exchange for possibly providing something for Vesjher's left flank. Actual creativity will be provided by Kokosa Matlaba. Goals are a big concern, and with no new attacking blood, it looks like tactical changes will be the key to that.

Key Players: Hiroshi Tamazaki (M, 21, LB/LM/CB/RB, Kita-Hinode), Kolosa Matlaba (F, 17, CM/CAM)

Magji FC

Stadium: 1999 Stadium (27,000)
Manager: Sam Zolder (M, 47)

The big city Djursa club. Outshone by Anarchists almost habitually despite having more money. One of Sajnur's most defensively oriented clubs, possibly just to be different to Anarchists again.

Yet another team with severe offensive woes in a country where such a thing just doesn't happen. Had a better defence than title winners Jolazi and a respectable -3 goal difference, yet finished 12th. 13 losses tends to do that. What have they done to rectify this? Absolutely nothing. Expect more mediocrity.

Key Players: Raika Soranda (O, 20, CM), Karel Mikola (M, 26, CB [c])

Mountaineers FC

Stadium: Mount Tesje Stadium (20,000)
Manager: Tora Anantse (F, 32)

Football done the Kalavar way. Frenetic, intense, constantly forward. Tesje averages more than 2000m above sea level, and the stadium is no exception. Shadowed by the eponymous 5000m tall mountain, the stadium is imposing for opponents. Expect wind and snow.

The season's goal drought unfortunately didn't apply to teams facing the Mountaineers, who conceded 87 goals, or a whopping forty more than next worst defence Alahin. Combine that with scoring just 30 (the goal drought most definitely hit the Mountaineers forward line) and you get the worst team of 2021. Can one really be surprised, though, when they run a notoriously tight ship while continuing to provide entertaining attacking football? They will always be a favourite regardless of results.

Key Players: Waina Tiqo (M, 19, ST/CF), Kapakur (O, 16, RM/RB)

North Osurgo FC

Stadium: North Osurgo Stadium (29,000)
Manager: Elvir Mutu (M, 50)

Osurgo: Laghia's third largest city. Not enough wealth to take on Ciarkhan or Tisinar, but enough of a fanbase to support two clubs in the second division.

Key Players: Stella Moranici (F, 16, LM/CDM/CM), Lazar Babandru (M, 19, LM/LB)

Savannah FC

Stadium: Unity Stadium (27,000)
Manager: Hamad bin Avigdor (M, 42)

Named for Asulia's wide expanses of grassland, the Saqrel based team plays against the scenic backdrop of the Kayer Mountains.

Normally known for more attacking football, Savannah was fourth in goals scored, yet their two most important players this season will be a pair of teenage defenders. Will this herald a shift to a more defensive style, or will they keep banging in the goals?

Key Players: Belkolle (M, 16, CB/CDM), Alton Matuska (M, 18, LB)

South Osurgo FC

Stadium: Unity Stadium (27,000)
Manager: Isak Artem (M, 38)

Osurgo: Laghia's third largest city. Not enough wealth to take on Ciarkhan or Tisinar, but enough of a fanbase to support two clubs in the second division.

Like their northern rivals, they have two youth prospects. Unlike their northern rivals, Marko Kolarov and Lazar Niuca show significant promise and could propel South Osurgo to the top tier in due course - that is, if bigger clubs don't poach them first.

Key Players: Marko Kolarov (M, 16, CDM/CM), Lazar Niuca (M, 17, LW/LM)

Talkho FC

Stadium: Unity Stadium (27,000)
Manager: Hakim Gebre (M, 36)
Transfers: Hinata Ishinomori (HIN, CM/CAM/CF/RW, free from Rukita University [HIN]), Seovael Onoma (HIN, RM/CDM, free from Royal Academy [HN])

All the way in the deserts of Mersuq, Talkho gets a football club on the back of mining revenues and being the only professional football club in the state.

Tied second worst attack, fourth worst defence. Last season was terrible even for the isolated desert team, and Hakim Gebre wants to do something about that. Up front, Hinodejin playmaker Hinata Ishinomori comes in to provide creativity at the penalty box. Out wide, Seovael Onoma arrives to shuttle the right sideline. On the left, Yasin Kalu is promoted from the youth setup to be Onoma's mirror. It remains to see whether the new wings and head will make this bird fly faster.

Key Players: Hinata Ishinomori (F, 21, CM/CAM/CF/RW, Kita-Hinode), Seovael Onoma (F, 21, RM/CDM, Kita-Hinode), Yasin Kalu (M, 15, LM/LB)

by **Sajnur** » Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:25 pm

SPL 2022 Review: Part 1

Like last season, Capitals Javoser start with seven wins in eight games. Unlike last season, that still leaves them second on the table at this point, with Khadur taking eight on the trot and the initiative on the ladder. Capitals have been their familiar selves, even without Admiral Of All Sajnur Jessica Siafik, but a shock 4-3 loss to Jaqa Island has left them off the top for the first time in a year. The weirdest part about this particular result is that the newly promoted side have just one point from their other seven matches and languish in 14th, a scoreless draw with To'ma their only cushion between them and the relegation zone. Mursata and Moruk combined well against the defending champions, the youth capped winger assisting the youth capped striker twice and scoring one himself, but they haven't carried that form into other matches. At the other end, the defence has been woeful, with 25 goals conceded.The defence that brought them up to the Premier League looks like it's going to drag them back down, and Haqla Zherel has been a passenger watching shot after shot fired at her. 4-0 down to Stormers and a 6-1 drubbing by Ka'in will instil no confidence. New girl Seira Muchiko has put in effort, but hasn't had the finesse required to stop the best of Sajnur's attacks.

Speaking of Ka'in, they're third on the ladder with six wins and first on the scoring charts with 26 goals, their 6-1 on Jaqa Island helped by a 4-1 ploughing of usually solid Foaspra the following week, and earlier in the season a 5-3 spectacle against Stormers and another 6-1 against Asulia rivals Mazigh. Ahmed Nazar already has ten goals, Erbasin has five, and Layla Shinwar has seven assists. Given that their Mazigh bulldozing was flanked by losses to Bazugh and Capitals, not bad at all. Mazigh can only be happy that they had Jaqa Island after the humiliation at Peace Lane, because that was their tenth consecutive loss, and their 18th league match without a win, following from last season, and Jaqa was the perfect team to break those streaks. They made hard work out of beating their fellow Archipelago side, but Tia Parci finally curled one past Haqla Zherel to end a period of intense agony for the beleaguered team, and then followed that by walking into the Stadium of the West and beating Foaspra 4-1. Yinx Theo got his first goal against the defensive stalwarts too. Mind you, Foaspra's defence have had a mare of it lately. Seventeen goals conceded in the last five matches is highly atypical for Emanuel Rusje's side, and since winning against Jolazi City on the opening day, they've lost their last seven. Oh dear.

FK Bazugh remain unbeaten like crosstown rivals Khadur, but three draws leave them fourth, and while they've conceded just three goals so far, they've scored just ten, fewer than Tisinar United in 12th. Sihano Kerero has controlled the centre of the park well, but this has turned into precious little for the front three, and they have been profligate with the chances they have been given. A 3-0 win against an under performing Ciarkhan City is let down by draws against Jolazi City and To'ma, two relegation candidates who will appreciate the precious point they each got. Captain Alan Gharici and company will appreciate the midfield making their jobs easy, but the fortress is sorely lacking in firepower. At least Cosumar's Anders Berzins has had time to ease in to Sajnur.

The Tisinar rivalry has been looking blood red so far. Red Star have five wins and are fifth. United have one win and are 12th. Red Star lost three in four at one point, but when those teams are Ka'in, Stormers, and Capitals, you can't begrudge them too much. In any case, they've won their last three and they're beating teams they should be beating. Sian Levici already has five assists, and strike pair Stacia Felsov and Ianina Ciansa have four goals each. United... are less so. After beating Border 3-0, they haven't won since. Granted, their five losses have been against, in order, Rivers, Pirates, Khadur, Bazugh, and Capitals, i.e. five of the top seven teams from last season, but they're the other team that drew Jolazi City. While Hinodejin international Fiji Nobunaga has proven to be a coup of a signing, their defence overall has proven to be average, and they have choked away potential good results. Vasil Stoianov may have four goals, but the strikers he's captaining have three between them and Nobunaga headed in two of their remaining four from corners. Put nicely, they're struggling, and they desperately need to take advantage of their upcoming easier run of matches if they're not to look like relegation candidates.

Sajnur Premier League Standings

  # Team                  P  W  D  L  For Ag  +/-  Pts
  1 FK Khadur             8  8  0  0  24   4  +20  24
  2 Capitals Javoser      8  7  0  1  24  10  +14  21
  3 Ka'in United          8  6  0  2  26  11  +15  18
  4 FK Bazugh             8  5  3  0  10   3   +7  18
  5 Red Star Tisinar      8  5  0  3  14   8   +6  15
  6 Stormers FC           8  5  0  3  15  12   +3  15
  7 Rivers Roskjepa       8  4  2  2  16  13   +3  14
  8 Ciarkhan City         8  4  1  3  12  10   +2  13
  9 Javoser Pirates       8  3  2  3  14  14   +0  11
 10 FC Mazigh             8  2  2  4   8  15   -7   8
 11 Border FC             8  2  1  5   8  16   -8   7
 12 Tisinar United        8  1  2  5  11  15   -4   5
 13 FC To'ma              8  1  2  5   9  18   -9   5
 14 Jaqa Island           8  1  1  6   7  25  -18   4
 15 FK Foaspra            8  1  0  7   8  20  -12   3
 16 Jolazi City           8  0  2  6   5  17  -12   2

by **Sajnur** » Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:26 pm

SPL 2022 Review: Part 2

Khadur's eight match winning run comes to a shocking end with a 6-0 shellacking at the hands of Border, the Khagho side's midfield finally coming properly good. Emlyn Chilford dissolves Khadur like salt in water and Alizer and Tatiana Pavlov in front of her get five assists between them, and a goal each to boot. Darjo Orasanni gets a hattrick, Piotr Hojaiev is obviated, and Polna Viskorov and Dosuri Vlakhia are more isolated than a Kalavar mountain village. Piotr Laghiev can only look on as shot after shot after shoot peppers him. Border gets 21 shots, to be exact, with 12 on target. Khadur gets two. Both miss. Andre Tarasov could have called Jessica Siafik from Mriin to have a smoking session and he would have missed precisely nothing. It's part of a run of just one win in seven that sees Khadur drop all the way down to 5th. That win? 4-0 against Mazigh past ex-Khadur deputy keeper Kugha Mastric. The youth international's side have now win just once in eleven matches, and carrying on from last season, just three games in 31. The Archipelago big dogs are scoring some goals, but their defence is bereft of inspiration, and Mastric is suffering for it.

The beneficiaries of Khadur's troubles are, of course, Capitals Javoser. Despite a 2-1 loss to Rivers that had them briefly lose second to Ka'in, they are now top again, but even the defending champions aren't without struggle. A 3-3 draw against Jolazi City means that they have picked up just one point from the two promoted teams, and a 3-1 loss to Bazugh, currently still 4th, means the difference between the two is two points, and the gap between Capitals and Ciarkhan City in 8th is just five. Jolazi, meanwhile remain winless and bottom with just four points at the half way mark despite three of those points coming against Bazugh, Capitals, and Ka'in, all in the top six. What is happening with Tjingu's side that is causing them to trip up top sides but have the mid table walk over them?

In other news, Bazugh finally lost in Round 14 to Stormers 4-0 as young captain Ella Ciuru unlocked Gharici and co's defences and strolled out with a hattrick, and Silja Jorse sent a Parjazu cutback 35 yards from the sideline over Anders Berzins' head for the fourth. A 5-3 win over Mazigh (it's always Mazigh, isn't it?) kept them within a point of Capitals, but Foaspra held the fort in The West to knock them out of the cup. Swings and roundabouts, ay? With them on 33 points, however, is their Roskjepa rivals Rivers, having surged up from 7th with 19 points in the last seven games, a big improvement on the two in the three before that. Zain Hasan now has ten goals in the league, and seven assists, from holding midfield and Kabas Verjez has scored four, one from a corner and three from his own free kicks. Verjez is also part of the third best defence in the league, only Bazugh and Red Star doing better.

Ciarkhan City are now back in with a serious shout of the title, but despite winning six of their last eight they remain 8th, even though they're just five points off the top, demonstrating just how close the top half has become. The City defence has remained solid, a 5-0 loss to Red Star notwithstanding, and their front three is now functioning enough to keep them in the race. Javoser Pirates were two points behind City in 9th after eight games. They're still 9th, but the gap to Ciarkhan is now nine points. For context, they're nine points ahead of Mazigh in 13th, with Jaqa Island only another point back. They brought in six foreign players in the transfer window and put four of them into the starting lineup, replacing Hatu Raglan and David Kiral and then some, but the team has not clicked. Darren Ferror has been decent but not stellar against fast Sajnuran attacks, and Tristan Milner and Ana Laursen have struggled in wingback positions they're not used to. Milner hasn't adapted to marshal the right side like Olivia Altunov wants her to, while Ana Laursen has been caught upfield on counterattacks enough times that goals have been conceded as a result. Evan Jefferson has been the big bright spot, covering for the defensive frailty so well that he's returned to the Xanneria national team at the age of 36, his move to Sajnur having originally been described as a "retirement" from the Xannerian domestic game. Meiki Fukuhara has had the occasional match at wingback, too, and while adventurous with his passes he's been restrained enough to stay in good defensive positions. Certainly one to look forward to in the future.

Sajnur Premier League Standings

  # Team                   P   W  D   L  For Ag  +/-  Pts
  1 Capitals Javoser      15  11  1   3  43  22  +21  34
  2 Stormers FC           15  11  0   4  41  19  +22  33
  3 Rivers Roskjepa       15  10  3   2  37  18  +19  33
  4 FK Bazugh             15   9  5   1  23  11  +12  32
  5 FK Khadur             15  10  1   4  34  20  +14  31
  6 Ka'in United          15   9  2   4  37  21  +16  29
  7 Red Star Tisinar      15   9  2   4  30  17  +13  29
  8 Ciarkhan City         15   9  2   4  29  20   +9  29
  9 Javoser Pirates       15   6  2   7  27  31   -4  20
 10 Border FC             15   5  3   7  23  29   -6  18
 11 FK Foaspra            15   4  1  10  16  32  -16  13
 12 Tisinar United        15   3  2  10  18  25   -7  11
 13 FC Mazigh             15   3  2  10  18  37  -19  11
 14 Jaqa Island           15   3  1  11  14  42  -28  10
 15 FC To'ma              15   1  3  11  17  36  -19   6
 16 Jolazi City           15   0  4  11  11  38  -27   4

by **Sajnur** » Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:31 pm

SPL Review: Part 3

This stretch of matches has been a period of firsts. FK Toucia's first ever victory in a Sajnur Cup quarter final. Stormers FC's first draw of the season. Jolazi City's first (and second) win of the season, ending a 21 match winless run stretching from last season. It's also seen Ciarkhan City win six and draw one, stretching their unbeaten run to thirteen and catapulting them up to third, just a point behind Capitals, who are themselves only ahead of Stormers on goal difference. Despite Capitals raiding High Tide with a 6-1 victory, the closeness of the top three has been brought about by Ciarkhan beating Capitals 2-0 at home, their sixth win in a row. Along with Ahmed Nazar guiding Ka'in to a 1-0 grind over the league leaders, Stormers are only second because that same matchweek they got held to a scoreless draw by Red Star. Behind them, Khadur lurk close, Bazugh cling on to an outside chance, and Rivers fall victim to a terrible run, winning just one of their last seven despite scoring 11 goals in that time. The absence of Kahala Murje is starting to hurt them now, as their defence drops from third best to seventh, conceding 14 goals in their lastest bad run. Red Star, however, have done even worse, the Stormers draw representing one of only two points they've earned in the last six matches. Their last win? 2-0 against, you guessed it, Mazigh.

At the foot of the table, To'ma are now odds on to be relegated, three points off safety and with no wins in their last seventeen league matches. Like Red Star, their last win is against Mazigh. Not the last Tawqush derby, that ended in a draw. The one near the start of the season, in Round 5. It's been four months since they last won a competitive fixture, and their loss to Jolazi City, ending the promoted teams' own sixteen match win drought, has sent them to the floor of the table, and Jolazi out of the relegation zone, at least on goal difference. While on that GD metric, it's Jaqa Island that's the worst team in the league by some margin, the islanders beat both their basement dwelling rivals in the first half of the season, and their upset over Capitals at the start of the season has kept them breathing. Jaqa's defence has been atrocious, and Mursata and Moruk have been the sum of the team's creativity. Five goals and seven assists for Mursata, and eight goals and two assists for Moruk. Ingrid Kayal has four goals, but no assists. Seira Muchiko has been trying to contribute all around the pitch, but her results are two assists and being the left of by far the worst backline in the league. That backline has conceded four or more in half of all their league matches. Jolazi have the "best" defence of the three, but the lack of big name creative talent has left them with the worst attacking record in the league, with just 20 goals in 22 matches. Their attacking pattern seems to consist entirely of Samson Kaljo feeding the ball to a wide player to cross to Djasinda. The striker has seven goals, to be fair, but no other player has more than three, and they've been utterly dominated in the middle of the park. To'ma are the middle of the road. They've scored the most of the three, and Mariele Schneider has five of those goals, and eight assists, to her name. Toljo Latvala has a further three goals and four assists. Safiya Tamsawi has eight goals. Everyone else has been mediocre at best. The defence is slow, the wingbacks have been ineffectual, and Khalid Abadol has just three goals. It'll be a struggle for all three teams.

In midtable news, Border caught up to the Pirates thanks in part to beating said Pirates 1-0, and then doing in Ka'in 4-1 in the next round. The Border midfield continues to carry the team to moderate success on the pitch and a comfortable position away from rabble of the bottom six, now ten points in arrears. Emlyn Chilford is controlling possession nicely, and Alizer and Tatiana Pavlov have unlocked far more creativity than they had last season, having matched their previous season's goal haul after just sixteen matches. Chilford's defensive assurance has clearly improved this team. FK Foaspra, however, are firmly mired in said rabble, although they're no longer in serious threat of relegation. Their defence has tightened up after conceding more than two a match in their first half, but their attack remains the second worsat in the league, though this is par for the course of Foaspra. They did get a 2-1 result over Bazugh, though, with headers from centre back pairing Zoran Vastra and Frederik Tjallor ending any serious title hopes for the Ciarkhan team. Mazigh, also in the rabble, are now in it for pride and the little things. They've taken consecutive victories for the second time this season, with a 2-1 win over Ka'in followed by a 5-0 thrashing of Jaqa Island. A good haul in Asulia, then, particular with Tia Parci getting a hattrick of assists against Jaqa. At least they're ahead of To'ma, even if the bottom team has taken four points to one in Tawqush derby matches this season.

Sajnur Premier League Standings

  # Team                   P   W  D   L  For Ag  +/-  Pts
  1 Capitals Javoser      22  16  1   5  65  29  +36  49
  2 Stormers FC           22  16  1   5  60  29  +31  49
  3 Ciarkhan City         22  15  3   4  42  22  +20  48
  4 FK Khadur             22  15  1   6  48  30  +18  46
  5 FK Bazugh             22  12  7   3  36  19  +17  43
  6 Rivers Roskjepa       22  11  7   4  48  32  +16  40
  7 Ka'in United          22  11  4   7  46  33  +13  37
  8 Red Star Tisinar      22  10  4   8  37  28   +9  34
  9 Javoser Pirates       22   9  4   9  39  41   -2  31
 10 Border FC             22   9  4   9  36  40   -4  31
 11 FK Foaspra            22   6  3  13  21  40  -19  21
 12 FC Mazigh             22   5  4  13  27  46  -19  19
 13 Tisinar United        22   4  4  14  28  40  -12  16
 14 Jolazi City           22   2  6  14  20  49  -29  12
 15 Jaqa Island           22   3  3  16  22  68  -46  12
 16 FC To'ma              22   1  6  15  23  52  -29   9

by **Sajnur** » Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:33 pm

SPL Review: Part 4

Three matches. That's how long it took for Stormers to crash out of the title race. A wonderful run that had them leading by three points, and now they're fifth. Going four points ahead of Ciarkhan City by scraping past 1-0, a 76th minute Silja Jorse screamer seeing them go top after Capitals lost 3-0 to Tisinar United. Could Vasil Stoianov and co get them the title? No. Tisinar doesn't discriminate, and having stripped three points from the capital side, the Tonje Stadium would host a shocking result as Stoianov would score four in a 7-1 shellacking. Tisinar, who had been sitting 13th prior, had just thrashed two title challengers and put ten goals past them. Stoianov alone scored five. So what, though, they were still party to a three way tie at the top, FK Khadur having caught up from fourth. Ciarkhan had lost to Red Star to drop behind Khadur. Stormers would be going to Queen Haqla to meet a Rivers side that just lost to Capitals. Surely they could win the Roskjepa Derby?

Rivers Roskjepa 6-0 Stormers FC

No. A Zain Hasan rampage meant that Stormers no longer had any share at the top. Hasan scores three, Inatje takes one from a marauding run from her own half, Stormers get stormed. Somehow, though, they're still level with Capitals. The defending champions lost their own derby to Pirates 2-1. With Ciarkhan City beating Ka'in 1-0 away, what was the top three after Round 22 had one win, two losses in their last three. Capitals lost to Ciarkhan 2-0 before these three games, so they're one and three. Top of the table? FK Khadur, a draw in their derby against Bazugh enough to see them top by a point. Now it's Piotr Laghiev in the driver's seat, a Polna Viskorov goal cancelling out Rebecca Mansell's spot kick. Not bad considering they lost to Pirates 6-2 just three matches earlier.

Sadly for Laghiev and company, a team familiar to readers of our season updates would pull them over immediately. Yes, folks, it's FC Mazigh in the house, and instead of losing 5-0 to Rivers Roskjepa, they've returned from beating Jolazi City 4-0 to beat Khadur 3-2 in front of a sellout Siyaka Island crowd, and with Capitals scraping past Jolazi 2-1 and Ciarkhan City bulldozing Jaqa Island 6-0 Khadur drop to third. Where are Stormers? At High Tide, handing three points to visiting Pirates from Javoser in the form of a 2-0 result. While they would extract four goals from Sandy Road, a 1-0 loss to Khadur and a 2-1 loss to Bazugh would have them drop behind the latter to fifth.

Back to the lead battle, and while Stormers were ransacking Jolazi City, the Niurka Stadium would host a 0-0 draw between Khadur and Capitals. Ciarkhan City would travel to the West... and lose 1-0 to Foaspra. Handing the advantage to Capitals, they would also spill second back to Stormers and third to a Bazugh side steamrolling through Mazigh. Yes, fresh from beating Khadur, the Tawqush side are apparently playing favourites in Ciarkhan. Or maybe it's just Mazigh being Mazigh. Regardless, four assists for Sihano Kerero and a simple header for Alan Gharici satiate Tariele Street like a gourmet three course meal. Matchdays 28 and 29 would see Capitals beat Bazugh (and, yes, Mazigh 4-1), Bazugh beat Stormers, and Khadur and Ciarkhan win two to produce the current top five, Bazugh unfortunately out of the title chase themselves.

Mazigh, for how erratic their results are, are comfortably safe from relegation. Yes, they're 13th, but they're nine points ahead of To'ma immediately behind them, and will play a stuttering Stormers side for pride. Tisinar United, who were three points behind Mazigh when we last checked in, are now three points ahead, having inexplicably won four of their last seven, and scored twenty goals in the process. With a goal difference twenty-seven goals superior to Mazigh, but five points behind Foaspra, Tisinar also have absolutely nothing to play for except to potentially ruin Ciarkhan City's title hopes. As for To'ma? They just beat Tisinar 3-2, and having scored eight points in their last five games, they are now safe. Yes, that means the promoted teams, Jaqa Island and Jolazi City, have officially been relegated. To'ma, who scored nine points in their first 24 matches, winning just one, are out of their reach. How? Well along with To'ma's recent season saving form, the two basement dwellers have scored just one point between them since the previous season report, Jaqa drawing To'ma 1-1 at the start of To'ma's good run. Jolazi have now lost their last nine, Jaqa have not won in fourteen, their last win being against Jolazi 2-0, and the two feet of the table will meet again for their season finale to see who is the worst team of all.

Sajnur Premier League Standings

  # Team                   P   W  D   L  For Ag  +/-  Pts
  1 Capitals Javoser      29  20  2   7  76  37  +39  62
  2 Ciarkhan City         29  19  3   7  55  25  +30  60
  3 FK Khadur             29  19  3   7  65  38  +27  60
  4 FK Bazugh             29  16  9   4  52  26  +26  57
  5 Stormers FC           29  18  1  10  67  47  +20  55
  6 Rivers Roskjepa       29  15  8   6  70  41  +29  53
  7 Javoser Pirates       29  15  5   9  59  46  +13  50
  8 Ka'in United          29  15  4  10  65  50  +15  49
  9 Red Star Tisinar      29  13  6  10  47  40   +7  45
 10 Border FC             29  10  5  14  43  52   -9  35
 11 FK Foaspra            29  10  4  15  27  46  -19  34
 12 Tisinar United        29   8  5  16  48  51   -3  29
 13 FC Mazigh             29   7  5  17  36  66  -30  26
 14 FC To'ma              29   3  8  18  29  64  -35  17
 15 Jaqa Island           29   3  4  22  26  88  -62  13
 16 Jolazi City           29   2  6  21  24  72  -48  12

by **Sajnur** » Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:35 pm

SPL Review: Matchday 30

Capitals Javoser 2-0 Border FC
Tisinar United 2-1 Ciarkhan City
Ka'in United 3-2 FK Khadur

The title battle saw Ciarkhan City and city stablemate FK Khadur face off against Uniteds Tisinar and Ka'in, needing wins to secure the title and hoping Border FC could conjure an almighty upset of Capitals Javoser. Things went immediately sour for City with a 12th minute goal for Vasil Stoianov, and by half time their title hopes were in horrible shape as Sian Markelov scored just before the break to have Tisinar 2-0 up. At Peace Lane, things were not at all peaceful as the loud musical instruments mixed with the tension of a 1-1 score at half time, an early visiting goal by Polna Viskorov canceled out by a curler by Ahmed Nazar. This situation, however, showed promise for Khadur as the Duke Isabel was yet to see a goal, Border's defence stubbornly holding the line against the star studded hosts. The scenes in Ka'in turned more frenetic as Viskorov scored another goal, Hela Isarghie whipping a very early cross over practically all of Ka'in and the striker volleying past Wasim Dubra to take the lead for a second time. Nazar, however, would strike back again with a very similar goal as Layla Shinwar sent in a mortar of her own for Nazar to clumsily head over Piotr Laghiev into goal. In the meantime, Capitals had brought one hand to the trophy with a goal from Rowan Down, who mazed his way through the field and fired from short range. Returning to the Tonje, Ciarkhan got one back against the hosts as Tatiana Sandu poached one from the after events of a corner, but at the same time Capitals struck a huge blow to Khadur's championship hopes as Basuli Maktar rose above all others to head in an Ella Syrku corner. The hopes of both Ciarkhan clubs continued to fade as the minutes flowed, and the plane with the trophy headed for Javoser. It was Ka'in, however, who put the dagger into the hearts of FK Khadur's fans, as Nazar completed his hattrick, lobbing into an open goal from range in the 92nd minute, Laghiev stranded having come up for a corner. Thus it was Kaori Hajat and co who lifted the trophy in front of 68,000 fans, and Laghiev was left on the floor to mourn a 3-2 loss and the title with it. City couldn't get another goal past the Tisinar defence, and Stefan Jana's side was left with hollow dejection at their fate.

Red Star Tisinar 1-2 FK Bazugh

On the other side of Tisinar, Red Star were hosting FK Bazugh for pride, while the visitors, despite no longer being in the title race, still had a Challengers Cup position to hold on to. As the other Tisinar v Ciarkhan match saw City melt away by half time, Supernova Stadium was a tense affair that saw no success in front of goal in the first half. Instead, Taulant Feizuli executed a heinous attempt to get his head to the ball by using Simon Tarasov's back as a platform to pull himself up, causing both players to collapse onto the pitch. Tarasov had red blood seep out of his chin, and Feizuli had a red card shown to his face, leaving Bazugh down a man instead of up a goal. The second half is where the fruit would be produced, though, as Rebecca Mansell found the ball in space, carried it to the box, and smashed it past Giorge Iajevici to go up, and more blood would be spilled as Elvir Stannis would hack Ghiannis Semeru's leg near the penalty spot, from which Alan Gharici would score Bazugh's second. Stannis was sent off in the interim. Despite the personnel numbers being equalised, however, Red Star would get a goal back as Sian Levici produced the magic that makes him a star in Sajnur, chopping past Indereis and sending a rocket past Anders Berzins. Unfotunately for him, Bazugh were resistant to further instances of his magic and would win 2-1, in the process leapfrogging rivals Khadur for third.

Stormers FC 3-1 FC Mazigh
Rivers Roskjepa 5-3 FC To'ma
Javoser Pirates 2-0 FK Foaspra

While Stormers still had a chance of making IFCF competition if they won and Bazugh lost, the other teams had little to fight for in this batch of fictures. Not that Rivers Roskjepa or FC To'ma played like it. The former still had the ambition of beating cross city rivals Stormers, and To'ma seemed energised after beating Tisinar United 3-2 to secure safety. As a result, both teams had scored within ten minutes. It was To'ma that scored first, shocking the fans at the Queen Haqla when Toljo Latvala sent a missile on a parabolic course to goal, and Samba Karjo's anti-air defences proved ineffective. Rivers hit straight back, however, as a Zain Hasan ground assault penetrated the To'ma lines and served Kaira Njalesk with a bomb on a platter to blow the visitors' goal wide open. At Independence, Javoser Pirates's barrage of the Foaspra defence bore fruit when Tristan Milner whipped in a cross to Hayder Sinan's right foot, the striker's volley leaving Worgul helpless. Rivers took the lead as a Kabas Verjez free kick evaded everyone on its journey to goal, and then scored another as Zain Hasan drove another ground assault to goal, this time taking the shot himself. To'ma pinned one back to leave the half time score at 3-2, however, as Mariele Schneider sent Safiya Tamsawi through the Rivers back line for her to beat Karjo in a one on one. Across Roskjepa, FC Mazigh scored a goal just before the break as Tia Parci sent Yinx Theo into wide open space behind the Stormers back line, the Chromatik winger poking past Jallai to take a shock lead at the break.

The second half proved just as frenetic for all involved, and once again it was To'ma who scored first, equalising against Rivers as Khalid Abadol found space to receive a Schneider pass to send to goal. Stormers equalised against Mazigh soon after, Parjazu and Ella Ciuru combining for the former to get on the scoresheet, and the Pirates would score their second and final goal as Jasmina would thread a shot from the edge of the box to the back of the net. Stormers took the lead against Mazigh mid way through the second half as Parjazu returned the favour to Ciuru, and Rivers would take a permanent lead against To'ma with a second Njalesk goal. The Roskjepa sides would press the advantage further against the Tawqush teams, and just before full time both would score another, with Njalesk finishing the season with a hattrick as Tassa Inatje charged upfield with the ball and mailed her an early cross to head home at Queen Haqla, and Silja Jorse poached a stray ball, rouletted past Shahid Balkash, and sliced through Kugha Mastric to find the net. The Pirates, meanwhile, were content to maintain the lead, knowing that Foaspra were unlikely to haul it down, bringing in Rei Mukuma for Darren Ferror and Meiki Fukuhara for Milner to see out the game.

Jolazi City 3-1 Jaqa Island

And finally, the basement brawl, the fight at the foot, the relegation rumble! Who will be the worst team of the 2022 Sajnur Premier League? Will it be Jolazi City, currently placed in the wooden spoon place? Or will Jaqa Island wrest that spoon away from the jaws of victory?

Well, both teams certainly made an effort to burrow for that prestigious wooden spoon in the first half, with yellow cards being thrown like confetti amidst the bad tackles, and offside after offside plaguing the attacking units. But it's Jaqa Island who make the first strike for the spoon, as Bilal Shahran heads into his own net in a truly terrible attempt to clear away a Samson Kaljo corner. Poor timing, poor contact, poor direction. Jolazi City cycle the ball around, Kaljo content to stay in the middle of the field, as the Delta State team analyse for any way to get back into the driver's seat for the search for the spoon. Soon enough, an opening! Alan Azimul carelessly gives the ball away to an onrushing Mursata! The wide man sprints with the ball, evading Ingrid Tojsa and releasing a shot around Anya Gellor! But Gamal Paris saves it! She tips it away and it rolls over the goal line for a corner, from which no result comes. Half time sounds, and Jolazi lead 1-0, and Jaqa Island are in pole position for the race to the bottom.

The second half starts, and almost immediately Tassiga sends a pass way over the sideline. A stunning play for the wooden spoon! But somehow, Jolazi City can't find a way to push Jaqa Island through their lines. There's no gap for them to siphon Mursata through. The hour mark passes and somehow the scoreline remains 1-0 to the home side. But Jolazi are cycling the ball around their defence, and Paitim Shando shanks it! Moruk collects the ball, runs through the wide open gap between the centre backs, and scores! It's level, folks! The wooden spoon is anyone's to play for, and so is the game! But Jaqa Island really want that wooden spoon, and won't let a setback such as an easy goal hinder them. The defence opens up and spreads thin, and Jolazi can't help but fall into gaps and end up with possession in dangerous areas. They try to choke away the chances, but Daria Syrku ends up with the ball facing nothing but open space, and is drawn through to goal where even the simplest of shots gets past Zherel to make it 2-1 City. It seems this turn of events makes the hosts give up on the wooden spoon too, as soon after Jondu Djira is swapped off for Makazole, and the young teenager charges through a weak Jaqa defence and scores late in the game to hand them the wooden spoon once and for all. Jaqa just have to throw away any and all possession, and that they do exquisitely, the full time whistle sounding in announcement of their receipt of the holy wooden cooking utensil! Huzzah!

Sajnur Premier League Standings

  # Team                   P   W  D   L  For Ag  +/-  Pts
  1 Capitals Javoser      30  21  2   7  78  37  +41  65        Champions League
  2 Ciarkhan City         30  19  3   8  56  27  +29  60        Challengers Cup
  3 FK Bazugh             30  17  9   4  54  27  +27  60        Challengers Cup
  4 FK Khadur             30  19  3   8  67  41  +26  60        Challengers Cup
  5 Stormers FC           30  19  1  10  70  48  +22  58
  6 Rivers Roskjepa       30  16  8   6  75  44  +31  56
  7 Javoser Pirates       30  16  5   9  61  46  +15  53
  8 Ka'in United          30  16  4  10  68  52  +16  52
  9 Red Star Tisinar      30  13  6  11  48  42   +6  45
 10 Border FC             30  10  5  15  43  54  -11  35
 11 FK Foaspra            30  10  4  16  27  48  -21  34
 12 Tisinar United        30   9  5  16  50  52   -2  32
 13 FC Mazigh             30   7  5  18  37  69  -32  26
 14 FC To'ma              30   3  8  19  32  69  -37  17
 15 Jolazi City           30   3  6  21  27  73  -46  15        Relegated
 16 Jaqa Island           30   3  4  23  27  91  -64  13        Relegated

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