ARC 1

by **Farfadillis** » Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:13 pm

Host bid

Welcome to Farfadillis! Sorry!

Groups

Group A
Farfadillis
Sarzonia
Rivoli-Acesca
Synephoren

Group B
Commonwealth of Baker Park
Canadian Dominion
Busoga Islands
Demot

Group C
Squornshelan Remnant States
Equestria
Oontaz
Txkhaxi

Group D
Yakk
Myrtle Beach
Crystal Ponies
The Island of Life

Group E
Milchama
Sea Dome
Dajkotav
San Gines

Group F
Qasden
Carpathia and Ruthenia
Talannua
Siovanija & Teusland

Group G
Valanora
Al-Tamazgha
Almuzahara
Mriin

Group H
Banija
Gyatso-kai
Xuois
Lacfroid

Schedule
All cutoffs will happen within the 2100-2300 UTC time window. If it's past 2300 UTC and I haven't cut off that's probably just me falling prey to my third-worldliness, but don't hesitate to DM/TG me if you're wondering whether cut-off is imminent.

Matchday 1: Thursday, January 18th
Matchday 2: Saturday, January 20th
Matchday 3: Monday, January 22nd
Round of 16: Wednesday, January 24th
Quarterfinals: Friday, January 26th
Semifinals: Sunday, January 28th
TPPO: Monday, January 29th
Final: Tuesday, January 30th

by **Farfadillis** » Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:14 pm

Reservado porque tengo que postear la información de anfitrión pero ahora mismo tengo que volar.

by **Canadian Dominion** » Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:17 pm

Canadian Dominion Ganders

Canadian Dominion soccer.. it does exist but its not the best out there as it is mainly on the bottom half of the standings but it has some hope with new players being brought in and ownership actually wanting the team to win some games! Although we might see the Ganders be stuck in a rebuild, the new players have brought some life in the team. It's good to hear that there is hope for the team with new players being brought in and a focus on winning games from ownership. Rebuilding can be a challenging process, but it sounds like the new players are bringing some positive energy to the team. It will be interesting to see how they progress in future of Canadian Dominion Soccer.

Well with that introduction out of the way lets take a look at the roster.

Green: Able to play
Red: Injured
Gold: Starter

#	FORWORD	        AGE	HT	WT	SHOT	BIRTH PLACE
12	Sebastian Colt	29	6-0	183	L	Goose-Bay
25	Cohen Aceron	35	5-8	179	R	Moose Stersqui
16	Eric Riley	27	5-10	181	L	Prince Wnavi
33	Donovan Lane	30	6-1	191	L	North Saultbe
75	Kane Parker	26	5-8	179	R	Rouynface
42	Camden Davis	25	6-1	176	R	Grand Delver

In the world of soccer, strikers play a crucial role in scoring goals and securing victories for their team. When a team loses key players, including star strikers, it can be challenging to fill those positions and maintain success. However, with the help of new manager Aaron McDonald, this roster has undergone some changes to bring on new talent to take over important roles. Looking at the strikers on this team's roster is a clear indication that manager McDonald has made significant efforts to build a strong attacking force. While many of last year's players have moved on, Coach McDonald has brought in new strikers who he believes have what it takes to succeed at the highest level. These strikers happen to have two of Canadian Dominions best on the team with Twenty-nine year old Sebastian Colt and Thirty-eight year old Cohen Aceron being the ones heading this years Strikers with subs such as Donovan Lane and Kane Parker being ready to step in if needed.

#	MIDFEILDERS	AGE	HT	WT	SHOT	BIRTH PLACE
29	Ryan Hamilton	38	5-10	188	R	Grand Mooseperth
15	Izabella Mayer	37	5-9	177	L	Nendoras Colonies
87	Timothy Gill	21	5-10	171	R	Goose-Bay
51	Isaac Nelson	28	5-8	176	L	Rouynface
2	Arlo Roberts	25	5-9	173	R	Grand Delver
18	Elliott Russell	23	5-8	171	L	Nendoras Colonies
26	Andre Roth	30	5-8	173	R	Nendoras Colonies
35	Ian Shields	18	5-10	179	R	Grand Delver
27	Waylon Keen	34	5-6	179	L	Goose-Bay

Canadian Dominion squad's focus on scouting and recruitment has become more pronounced with their search for top-performing midfielders. The addition of players like Ryan Hamilton and Izabella Mayer is a testament to their commitment to finding top-quality athletes for the team. It's exciting to see how these new recruits will contribute to the team's overall performance, especially given their demonstrated excellence in all areas of gameplay during initial practices. As such, it seems that the Ganders are making a strong investment in building a competitive and successful team for this World Cup qualifiers.

#	DEFENSE	        AGE	HT	WT	SHOT	BIRTH PLACE
95	Ethan Lyle	24	5-10	170	L	Grand Delver
36	Jax Smith	27	5-7	169	L/R	Rouynface
19	Max Prince	23	5-8	178	R	Grand Mooseperth
17	Phoenix Wood	24	5-9	169	L	Nendoras Colonies
48	Nixon Hill	22	6-1	183	L/R	Prince Wnavi
86	Waylon Keen	28	5-10	187	R	North Saultbe
61	Zane Hoffman	20	6-3	192	L	Goose-Bay
24	Blake Reynolds	32	6-1	169	L/R	Grand Delver
67	Nico Glen	21	6-2	170	L	Nendoras Colonies
43	Ivan Holder	29	5-11	168	L	Goose-Bay

Now we will take a look at the Canadian Dominions defense, the second-to-last line of defense against attacking teams. This year's Defense has seen some slight upgrades, although Canadian Dominion’s defense doesn’t have any notable additions, with CD still being a more offensive-based team trying to find success on the offensive side to negate anything bad that happens on the defensive side of the pitch.

#	GOALIES	        AGE	HT	WT	SHOT	BIRTH PLACE
88	Tristan Clarke	29	6-4	184	R/L	Goose-Bay
22	Josiah Byrne	27	5-11	189	R/L	Prince Wnavi
21	Enzo North	19	6-2	188	R/L	Nendoras Colonies

The CD Ganders have a new set of goalies this year, with an emphasis on experience and skill. The team is led by Tristan Clarke, who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field. With these new players joining the squad, it's expected that the team will show significant improvement this season. The importance of having skilled and experienced goalies cannot be overstated in ice hockey. They are often the last line of defense and can make or break a game. With Tristan Clarke leading the way, the CD Ganders are in good hands. Clarke's leadership combined with his technical prowess has been crucial to building a solid defense for the squad. The other goalies on the team also possess valuable experience that will be vital as they work together to support each other in achieving their goals.

In summary, while CD Ganders may have new goalies this year, they are not lacking in talent or skill. With Tristan Clarke at helm and a strong supporting cast around him, fans can expect some exciting things from this team as they head into their next season.

Manager: Aaron McDonald

Background info: The CD Ganders have had internal problems for some time, and Aaron McDonald has been appointed as the new manager to resolve them. McDonald was hired specifically to address these issues, and he has taken a bold approach by clearing house. There are several challenges that McDonald is facing, including poor team dynamics, lack of communication between players and staff, and underperformance on the field. By clearing house, McDonald is making it clear that he wants to build a new team culture that prioritizes mutual respect and collaboration. While this approach may be controversial for some fans of the CD Ganders, it's essential to remember that teams need strong leadership to succeed. If McDonald can create a more positive atmosphere within the organization, it could translate into better results on the field and improved morale among players. Ultimately, time will tell if the gamble pays off. Still, one thing is clear: Aaron McDonald is willing to take bold action to address internal issues at CD Ganders

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:

Godmod scoring events: Yes
    RP injuries to my players: Yes
    Godmod injuries to my players: Yes
    Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
    Hand out red cards to my players: Yes
    Godmod other events: Yes

    Style modifier: +3.5

by **Txakhaxi** » Thu Jan 11, 2024 3:55 pm

Txakhaxi Football Association
Txakhaxi Futiboloiki Boetininos

National Football Team of Txakhaxi

Home and away kits of the national team

On the occasion of the first edition of the ARC, the Txakhaxi Football Association (TFA) has formed a national team that will officially represent the country on the international football scene for the first time. The delegation created for this purpose was criticized by a large part of the population because the leadership of the Krekhegidi Txakhaxi was entrusted with the management of the team due to the lack of proper organization, and this association only works with nine of the fifteen states conforming the Txakhaxi Federation. For this reason, almost half of the country's population is not represented in the player pool. The TFF has asked fans to be understanding of the delicate situation, and has pledged to have all organizational issues resolved in the years to come.

Expectations are not set high for this cup. Txakhaxi is a small country, with delicate political stability and significant infrastructure problems. However, the Txakhaxis look forward to seeing their compatriots carry the national flag around the region. Results are clearly not first in the order of priorities. The history of Txakhaxi in football begins here. Achieving the dream of a future of glory depends solely on them. The twilight of the times of a war torn Txakhaxi finally begins to fade away.

The culture of the United Socialist States of Txakhaxi has a history of thousands of years. The three ethnic groups that inhabit its lands have coexisted here for centuries, constantly feeding each other, but also fighting countless times throughout history. The Adaxakha were the first to inhabit the land, since 9000 years before the present. These days they mainly inhabit the easternmost archipelagos. The Txakha are a people originated in the plains north of the mountain range that delimits Txakhaxi borders nowadays. They largely displaced the Adaxakha from the mainland and constitute the ethnic majority. The Goakha reached Txakhaxi around 1300 years ago and they conquered the largest islands to the west of the country, but won't be partaking in the ARC because of organizational issues.

Relations between Adaxakhas and Txakhas have been historically rough. The institution of the fedeartion in the country helped diminsh them for a while, but they've been on the rise for the past decade. In Txakhaxi domestic football, which just started its first season this year, both ethnicities have had clashes with eachother. When visiting Huxabe, you'll find a vast majority of Txakhas, who might even insult their own Adaxakha nationals. Though, if you play in Adaxa Sai, Adaxakhas could take it on your fans. Don't worry, Txakhaxi police will be there ready to keep the peace in the stadium.
OOC: But feel free to RP a fight between fans, because they are fierce.

If the national team of Txakhaxi is visiting you, expect much less trouble. Txakhaxis will set aside their differences as soon as they feel their historical imperviousness threatened, and that'd probably happen as soon as they leave Txakhaxi. They'd probably bring few fans out there, since Txakhaxi isn't exactly a wealthy nation. They'll all be sitting together like cornered cats, chanting and pretending they never left their homeland. Treat them with kindness and leave them their space, and you won't even notice they are there up until the match.

Tactics

Formation: 5-4-1Style Mod: -4Coach: Gokhobe Magokhitxe

When selecting Gokhobe Magokhitxe as coach of the national team, the directors of the Krekhegidi Txakhaxi were looking for someone with the level of discipline to take a squad of kind of erratic and still amateurish players, and turn them into a solid and difficult team to overcome. His years coaching Nasago Fukrabekae earned him the recognition of the general public, being respected even among Adaxakhas.

Txakhaxi doesn't focus on playing better than their opponents to beat them (would that even make sense playing against top-tier national teams?). Instead, the eleven players play as defensive bulwarks, protecting the goal at all costs, at all times. The tall and strong center-backs, lighting-fast wingers, and strikers with a good presence in the box, make the Txakhaxi national team a counterattacking machine.

The general idea of the game that Magokhitxe seeks to provoke is to force the opposing team to move the ball on the wings. For this, the defenders seek to close tightly, blocking any space that the opponents could take advantage of. In addition, Txakhaxi's defensive line is usually located far back on the field, so they force their rivals to bring more players towards the box. By closing the gaps, opponents have no choice but to play the ball on the wings and throw cross passes into the box. This is where the strategy shines. The Txakhaxi may not be excellent players, but they usually have enviable physiques. It's not easy, even for high-level strikers, to out-balance a Txakhaxi defender. Turnovers can be took by midfielders, who quickly rush to counter.

This strategy is certainly risky, specially for a team that might end up spending ninety minutes just defending, but it certainly takes advantage of the benefits while neutralizing as much as possible the disadvantages of a team that lacks technical quality. It is not a tactical approach that seeks to reach the top of the group, but rather one that tries to avoid last place at all costs.

Player pool

  POS   NAME                  AGE    TEAM
  GK    Maihe Kobotxau        30      Saifudabao KF
  GK    Fahia Kaopokatxai     26      KF Buikhani Fakhuakuapoeme
  GK    Toxihi Gubakhakhan    31      BF Raoxu
  GK    Xibauhai Xatxaihu     23      KF Adaxa Sai
  CB    Huatxehai Exaikrakhe  24      KF Adaxa Sai
  CB    Adaxa Kaoñahani       25      KF Nasago Fukrabekae
  CB    Hakhan Diakami        25      KF Khiuneri Etxahuini
  CB    Dahiutxi Adatxi       21      KF Buikhani Fakhuakuapoeme
  CB    Nomau Goñuebao        23      Saifudabao KF
  CB    Ñae Tosaihau          26      KF Adaxa Sai
  LWB   Grakhe Bao Keos       26      Xabrei Omu Pot F
  LWB   Goiki Dasuanimei      29      KF Utao
  LWB   Saiko Dubikhemi       24      Saifudabao KF
  RWB   Huomi Muaniak         23      BF Raoxu
  RWB   Krabe Biba Txomu      33      Maihe Bakha KF

  POS   NAME                  AGE    TEAM
  RWB   Dabao Bikhokaeñi      26      KF Nasago Fukrabekae  
  CM    Khitxu Dautxaba       25      KF Kubati
  CM    Raoxu Nosa Xae        28      Maihe Bakha KF
  CM    Mafugu Hubangu        26      KF Huatxonedaesuti
  CM    Buikhuñi Daofahimu    30      Saifudabao KF
  CM    Haihai Maikhata       27      BF Raoxu
  LW    Ñabege Otxandakhi     23      BF Raoxu
  LW    Dakhae Imuameni       23      KF Nasago Fukrabekae
  RW    Kabai Ofakhatxa       27      KF Buikhani Fakhuakuapoeme
  RW    Ñaotxi Tai Khaka      21      Maihe Bakha KF
  RW    Txasiu Dainexikai     22      KF Nasago Fukrabekae
  CF    Katxe Sakhakhai       25      Saifudabao KF
  CF    Arabe Uraikheta       33      KF Khiuneri Etxahuini
  CF    Txagi Xikharkeni      23      BF Raoxu
  CF    Huañehai Bautxietxe   31      BF Ñañake

GOALKEEPERS: Kaopokatxai gets all the attention among the goalkeepers. For the overall low level of the team, Fahia Kaopokatxai is an interesting exception. His sharp reflexes matched with his agility makes him an excellent choice for defending the Txakhaxi goal. Kaopokatxai's disciplined attitude gives him an important plus in the eyes of the coach, who looks for a serious and orderly team, and picks him to don the captain's armband most of the time.

CENTER-BACKS: Kaoñahani and Adatxi are the most outstanding center-backs in the team. They both have a similar style. Lacking dexterity, they use their huge size and physical power to destabilize opponents. Their ability to head and defend from cross-balls makes them very important pieces of the Txakhaxi defense. They are paired with a faster defender, usually Hakhan Diakami.

WING-BACKS: Goiki Dasuanimei is one of the most experienced players on the team. He has a very well rounded style that combines defensive ability with offensive prowess. Along with Saiko Dubikhemi, they were especially chosen for their precision when making long passes. This characteristic makes them essential factors in the offensive transition of a team that bets on counterattacks as its main strategy.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS: For most matches, the coach chooses either Nosa Xae or Maikhata as their playmaker. Both players have good ball handling and are usually in charge of organizing the team when they play at ground level, however both have good skills to recover the ball in defense. They were given priority in the team over other more technically gifted Txakhaxis simply because of the team's prevailing need to defend.

The other midfielder position is usually filled by Buikhuñi Daofahimu. As for his style of play, he appears to be a center-back standing in the middle of the field. His only notable skill is tackling and intercepting passes, but admittedly, he really shines at it. Daofahimu's temperament sometimes causes problems, but it is a price the coach is willing to pay in order to have him.

WINGERS: Otxandakhi is perhaps the best player on the team. Unlike the other wingers, he isn't that fast. Instead, he specializes in high passes and long shots. He's also very good at free kicks, and his dribbling skill is decent. On the other hand, Ofakhatxa and Tai Khaka are both incredibly fast. They might not be gifted players, but their effectiveness in breaking through defensive lines makes them extremely destabilizing.

CENTRAL FORWARDS: The coach uses two types of central forwards depending on the game. On one hand, Xikharkeni and Bautxietxe are burly goal poachers. They seek to run to the box to receive a key pass from a teammate and get the ball into the goal. On the other hand, Uraikheta and Sakhakhai tend to get in contact with the ball more often, participating in the attack plays and often withdrawing for wingers to surpass them.

RP permissions

If my opponent RP first, they may (and are encouraged to) do the following

Choose my scorers:                  Yes
Choose scoring events:              Yes
God-mod scoring events:             Yes
RP injuries to my players:          Yes
God-mod injuries to my players:     Yes
Yellow card my players:             Yes 
Red card my players:                Yes
God-mod other events:               Yes

by **Demot** » Fri Jan 12, 2024 11:47 pm

Demot "Dynamo" Roster

Kits

Home Away Third

Manager: Chris Gilliam, age 45
Assistant: Vivian Moody, age 46 (F)

Modifier: +3

GK: Veronica Soto, age 24, Club Demot (F)
GK: Claude Ramos, age 26, Santa Rosa FC
GK: Michael Thrasher, age 31, Likewell Kirk
LB: Jessica León, age 24, Likewell Kirk (F)
LB: Carl Williams, age 32, Skyhaven FC
CB: Ryan Storm, age 30, Tiranyus FC
CB: Gabriel Boyle, age 27, Likewell Kirk
RB: Albert Gilliam, age 30, Likewell Kirk
RB: Ebony Horner, age 25, Tiranyus FC (F)
RW: Gregory Jackson, age 30, Oceanic United
RW: Valencia Stewart, age 30, Skyhaven FC (F)
LW: Eda Bergeron, age 29, Club Demot (F)
LW: Ángel Murphy, age 25, Atalantian FC
MC: Dawn Washington, age 32, Parthen United (F)
MC: Dana Henry, age 25, Likewell Kirk (F)
AMC: Beverly Harding, age 30, Mirria City (F)
AMC: Carl Mason, age 28, Santa Rosa FC
AMC: Clarence Bernard, age 24, Likewell Kirk
AMC: David Willis, age 28, Santa Rosa FC
ST: Mary Eades, age 31, Likewell Kirk (F)
ST: Myrtle Detwiler, age 26, Oceanic United (F)
ST: Bryan Hernández, age 34, Santa Rosa FC
ST: Sara Jones, age 31, Club Demot (F)

I Give To My Opponent The Permission To:
=================================
Choose My Goalscorers: Y
Godmod Goalscoring Events: N
Injure Players: Y, but no more than two games out
Godmod Injury Events: N
Red Card Players: Y
Yellow Card Players: Y
Godmod Other Events: TG me first.
=================================

by **Synephoren** » Sat Jan 13, 2024 6:25 am

------------------ συννεφονησοι SYNEPHOREN ------------------

Style mod: +1
RP Permissions: yes
Formation: 3-5-2 or 2-5-3. Players listed in depth chart order.
Jerseys: light blue and white (home), red and yellow (away)

GK Taniela (m) Masali (21) - Kassiteronesians
GK Eteroa (m) Bura (19) - Koinakai Xylonesians
GK Palaki (m) Mala (22) - Olympia Aginakos

DEF Tavaita (m) Finau (20) - Aoninavas City
DEF Kaulana (f) Chakona (18) - Adamanoinano City
DEF Tane (m) Diamandi (24) - Tavitetha and Louphitapha
DEF Marama (f) Kali (20) - Sourouponesians FC
DEF Haukea (f) Angelopulo (21) - Aoninavas City
DEF Kiana (f) Dukaki (24) - Oxigoroa Town

MID Lani (f) Masali (25) - Koinakai Xylonesians
MID Iosepha (m) Iordanu (22) - Koinakai Xylonesians
MID Kanaloa (m) Orologa (23) - Olympia Aginakos
MID Aolani (f) Kuri (18) - Kassiteronesians
MID Koki (m) Thano (18) - Oxigoroa Town
MID Pha'ala (f) Sari (22) - Tavitetha and Louphitapha
MID Mele (f) Iordanu (22) - Sourouponesians FC

STR Nukutere (m) Diako (23) - Kassiteronesians
STR Phale (m) Onasi (25) - Adamanoinano City
STR Taniela (m) Raptu (24) - Koinakai Xylonesians
STR Tavaita (m) Meliseno (25) - Aoninavas City
STR Koki (m) Adamo (20) - Olympia Aginakos
STR Aphi (m) Pachi (20) - Kitopou FC
STR Manase (m) Andino (23) - Oxigoroa Town

Tavaita Finau is a brutal defender, Taniela Masali is a stellar goalkeeper, and Nukutere Diako and Phale Onasi are a solid strikers' duo, but the strength of the squad is entirely its midfield. Lani Masali, Iosepha Iordanu, Kanaloa Orologa, Aolani Kuri, and Koki Thano are a great unit. Therefore the squad will often play 3-5-2 or even 2-5-3. Anything to get the five midfielders on at the same time. Tactics and strategy are a little underappreciated on the islands, but the connections between players and the decent all-purpose midfield are hopefully enough to stop other teams from ramping up the score.

Association football sits in a comfortable third when it comes to popular sports in Synephoren. It's firmly behind rugby union and rugby league, though soccer has certainly picked up in popularity in the unofficial pickup 5-a-side futsal scene. It's also quite difficult to fit in full size soccer pitches on narrow atolls, and often clubs try to book the rugby pitch weeks, if not months, in advance, in order to schedule a full 11 versus 11. The league, as a result, sees a decent number of postponements, but to this day every match has been completed before the end of the season.

Rugby clubs don't like it when the soccer people draw lines all over their field, so the penalty area isn't always clearly marked. In other places, rugby lines are white and soccer lines are painted in a much fainter yellow, quickly fading during matches or leading to nicknames for the sport as the 'yellow line game' (Meleka'eita'aloga, Alysidanesian).

Oh right - Synephoren consists of four archipelagos (Alysidanesia, Katartinesia, Sourouponesia, Xylonesia) and one larger island (Kassiteronesia). The capital (Aoninavas) is on Kassiteronesia. It's hard to draw clear borders between the four/five groups, but the people themselves insist that they're quite clear. Xylonesia has some agriculture, Sourouponesia has extensive floating town/city areas, Alysidanesia is by far the largest though many inhabited islands can be seen from each other's horizons. Katartinesia is by far the most sparsely populated.

Synephoren is an early member of the Ko-orenite Constellation (Commonwealth), easily linked to Ko-oren as an ecologically conscious nation - if the sea level rises any more, the territory will lose dozens of islands, including inhabited ones. In return, Synephoren explores a meritocratic political system, opting for a governor appointed from a circle of regional leaders - currently, that is Elektra Managea.

by **Sarzonia** » Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:57 am

Sarzonia national football team

Style Modifier: 0
Formation: 4-4-2

Code: Select all: RP Permissions If my opponent posts first, they Can decide my scorers(Y/N): Y Can give injuries to my players: N Can give red or yellow cards to my players: No more than you give your own players/managers Can godmod scoring events: If by "godmod," you mean describe the scoring event, sure. If you mean something wild like the ball randomly going into the net, no. Can godmod other events: Stuff like weather, yes. No pandemics, no violence against my people, etc.

Manager: Caleb Rush, 50
Assistant Managers: Martie Braxton, 43; Christian Thomas, 58; Thad Knight, 47
Goalkeepers Coach: Paolo Gomes, 39

ROSTER (Starters in BOLD)
GOALKEEPERS
1 John Wells, 19 6-foot-2, 185 pounds (Syracuse United)
22 Scott Harkey, 21 5-foot-9, 175 pounds (Joe Gibbs University)
30 Dayne Marks, 26 5-foot-11, 170 pounds (Corcorran Comets)

DEFENCE
2 Bill Kelley, 20 6-foot, 180 pounds (Somerset College)
4 Josh Wilkes, 23 5-foot-10, 175 pounds (Woodstock Wild Reserves)
5 Ken Webb, 27 6-foot-3, 205 pounds (Portland Timbers) CAPTAIN
6 Frank Grant, 21 5-foot-11, 190 pounds (Greenville Greens)
3 Kyler Thomas, 19 6-foot-1, 200 pounds (University of Nicksia) would be emergency goalkeeper
16 Matt Austin, 20 6-foot-4, 220 pounds (Trenton SC)

MIDFIELD
8 Layton George, 22 6-foot, 185 pounds (Nicksia Knights)
9 Lucius Wesley, 28 5-foot-11, 170 pounds (Portland Timbers Reserves)
12 Harlon "Harley" Masterson, 20 5-foot-9, 165 pounds (Woodstock Wild Reserves)
13 Carrie Andrews, 23 5-foot-10, 160 pounds (Woodstock Justice)
18 Carlos Macias, 20, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds (Ciudad de Somerset)
19 Xander Howard, 18, 5-foot-8, 155 pounds (Cedar Locke Academy)

FORWARDS
10 Kitt Morgan, 24 5-foot-8, 150 pounds (Rainbow United)
11 Holly Chambers, 23 5-foot-10, 170 pounds (Caribou FC)
14 Spencer Wilson, 19 6-foot-3, 215 pounds (Woodstock Wild Reserves). Younger brother of Clayton Wilson.

by **Lacfroid** » Sat Jan 13, 2024 11:25 am

Lacfroid National Football Team "Les Papillons"

Pos.	First	Last		Age	Team
GK	Maxence	Simonnet	28	AS Bataille
GK	Jessim	Labat		20	Saint-Laurent 43
GK	Marwa	Chateau		19	AS Ville du Lac
DF	Selena	Serre		32	Saint-Laurent 43
DF	Adele	Guy		31	AS Bataille
DF	Robin	Prudhomme	29	AS Ville du Lac
DF	Lina	Laplace		27	Olympique Saint-Laurent
DF	Fares	Laplace		23	AS Ville du Lac
DF	Daniel	Francois	20	Athletic Kentsville
MF	Louca	Andrieu		33	Tamboursville FC
MF	Matt	Lecocq		28	Saint-Laurent 43
MF	Jasmine	Rigaud		24	Athletic Kentsville
MF	Ryan	Labrousse	23	AS Galilee
MF	Lucie	Menard		22	RC Raleigh
MF	Kim	Auger		21	Athletic Kentsville
MF	Hind	Lafargue	20	Club de Hospitaliers
FW	Logan	Abdallah	36	Olympique Saint-Laurent
FW	Nathan	Le Goff		35	AS Galilee
FW	Ilhan	Poisson		34	AS Ville du Lac
FW	Swan	Berger		33	RC Raleigh
FW	Yaniss	Robinet		29	Olympique Saint-Laurent
FW	Amine	Pujol		26	AS Champlain
FW	Alois	Fritsch		22	AS Galilee

Godmod scoring events: No
RP injuries to my players: Yes
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: No
Godmod other events: No

Style modifier: 0

by **Oontaz Dert Li Ng** » Sat Jan 13, 2024 11:53 pm

SULTANATE OF OONTAZ DERT LI NG
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL TEAM

This is the First time that the Sultanate of Oontaz will be participating in the Arrosian Regional Championship. The nation is a mix of Muslims and Catholics, with the Mohammedans concentrated in the northern part of the country and the Christians living mostly in the southern islands. Despite a turbulent early history which saw both religious groups fighting constant wars and rebellions, by the time Abanhfleft came and established diplomatic relations with the nation in 1921, a general "peace" had settled between the two groups, and today both are content to consider each other as Oontazniks. Despite being a sultanate, the freedom of religion is valued by the nation, although it would be good advice to say that while the Catholics and Christians might be welcoming, even accommodating, to foreigners of strange new religions, the Muslims might not be so welcoming.

BASIC INFORMATION
Name of nation: Sultanate of Oontaz Dert Li Ng
Demonym: Oontaznik
Nickname: Lions of Sand and Sea
Team colors: Green and white
Style modifier: -2.0 (Defensive this time around)
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Head coach: Faris Feraoun (68 y/o, Oontaz Dert Li Ng)

STARTERS
GK: Ayachi KHATOUI 28 y/o, Admiral Novorossiysk

(Pridnestrovia)

RB: Salman MUWARRAQ 26 y/o, Sub Deg Raiders A.F.C.

(Copper Cuprum)

RCB: Reda CHOUCHANE 30 y/o, Pasargad Manitogoro

LCB: Kenny PARDO 27 y/o, Paulsen FC

(Abanhfleft)

LB: Hakim MANSOUR 31 y/o, Atletico Bed Deg

(Copper Cuprum)

DM: Mounir MUSTAFAWI 30 y/o, Mah Deg Diamonds

(Copper Cuprum)

CM: MURIEL Nigeriano 32 y/o, Botafogo de Maranao

RW: Abdelqader JALMASANI 33 y/o, VIgan Athletic

CAM: ABDILLAH bin Ahmad Shariffuddin 26 y/o, Botafogo de Maranao

LW: Rahim ABBASI 31 y/o, Gryphons Nubalochi

FW: Djet ARIYADI 33 y/o, FK Mamai Ihorivtsi (Estorvipa and Estorpiva)

RESERVES
GK: Errol TAULAVA 32 y/o, Vigan Athletic

GK: Rashiddo EL HAROUN 34 y/o, Athletic Dorfdifving

(Abanhfleft)

DEF: Anass SAQQAF 33 y/o, Dinamo Bender

(Pridnestrovia)

DEF: Mohd ZAIDIL bin Yusoff 32 y/o, Esteghlal Omidinabad

DEF: ANAS IMAM 32 y/o, Gryphons Nubalochi

DEF: Sunar SULISTYO 31 y/o, Vay Deg Eels A.F.C.

(Copper Cuprum)

MID: Jefferson MONTIEL 28 y/o, Pasargad Manitogoro

MID: Usman Iskander BARKAWI 24 y/o, Esteghlal Omidinabad

MID: José Miguel CARRASQUEL 26 y/o, Rayo La Presa

FW: Mohd JAMAL bin Hassani 27 y/o, Vigan Athletic

FW: Ortizan KARISMA 27 y/o, Dinamo Macaresti

(Pridnestrovia)

FW: Donnie ONG 29 y/o, General Santos F.C.

FORMATION

HOME STADIA

SCHEDULE
Win-loss record: 15-7-16 (penalty shootouts counted as draws)
To be edited...

RP PERMISSIONS
Anything except killing my players is fair game.

by **Valanora** » Sun Jan 14, 2024 8:27 am

From the Offices of the VSC does the Marauder information come

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod Scoring Events Y
RP injuries to my players Y (no more than one game out)
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out Yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out Red cards to my players N
Godmod Other Events Y

What is the name of…

…the five time World Cup champions?
The Eternal Empire -or- Valanora (known prior to World Cup 37 as Elves Security Forces)

...the other nations involved in Valanora?
Sabine and Caddonia, Vyinta, and Dark Templara

…the nation in which this Commonwealth play their home matches?
Elves Security Forces (sometimes ESF in shortphrase)

…people from the Commonwealth?
Vanorians or Vanors

…the person who created this mess?
Elves Security Forces

Style Modifier: +1

Stadium: Hatire Memorial, Capri (60,000)

Kits

Home Away

Manager

Emeline Millet F)
Age: 56
Appointing someone from Ko-oren came as a huge shock, with those from the nation known to be proponents of what most Vanorians would call anti-football tactics, however Millet seems to be an outlier having turned Aminey CS into a big club in the nation while playing good football and the ability to handle big personalities. The question of a culture clash is definitely in place as well as the formation, as she known to prefer a 4-3-3, which would disrupt the traditional Vanorian formation and potentially leave out a wealth of attacking talent up top.

Assistant Manager
Kasper Volheim
Age: 50
Volheim is kept on as Millet's assistant due to the short turnaround after her appointment and the start of the tournament. Runs with the youth national team and Raynor City United's youth team before that means he has the chops and is likely looking to get a club appointment as a manager or assistant after the conclusion of the tournament.

Keepers
GK: Günter Obermaier, age 33, Ulsa

GK: Kristian Finstad, age 29, Wexax United
GK: Nikolai Simonsen, age 22, Baskita FC

For the first time in quite awhile, the keeper position does not look like a position of complete weakness for the side, with a mix of veteran players as well as a hot prospect doing well in a top league to choose from. Obermaier provides a sturdy hand in net and having been through the rigors of the Euraleague to become a top class player at the position. By no means elite but he gets the job done more often than not and does what is expected of him, which is what the Marauders are merely looking for at the position. Finstad has emerged at Wexax and got them playing well in the defense once more, establishing himself for the time being as the second choice keeper. It is only for the time being because Simonsen has been starting for Baskita the past two seasons and has looked quite the remarkable player with bags of potential that could be realized, though it may take a bigger club than Baskita to see the young keeper to fully realizing that potential.

Defenders
L/CB: Leah Zweig, age 28, Wexax United (F)
L/CB: Adrian Løvdal, age 31, SC Rinaldi
CB: Louise Løvoll, age 29, Mar Sara FC (F)
CB: Franziska Maurer, age 26, Duke of the North

(F)
CB: Samira Lindström, age 28, Raynor City United (F)
CB: Ottilia Berg, age 26, Wexax United (F)
R/CB: Laura Adler, age 26, Mipojoseon

(F)
RB: Hilding Strömberg, age 27, SC Rinaldi

Defense is not a Vanorian strong suit, but it will be Millet's job to turn a bunch of individually talented players into a truly respectable defense that opposing teams are not licking their chops at the idea of taking on. That begins with shifting from a back three into a back four that should hopefully provide a bit more defensive stability. Zweig will be a key part to that transition, nailing down the left hand side with exceptional offensive and defensive capabilities, while Adler has been a revelation on the right since her move to Quebec, helping helm a defense that is exceptionally difficult to breach, with the hope that translates well into the national team. In the middle Louise Løvoll is the clear pick to lead the defensive organization with her years of experience both for national team as well as Mar Sara, though who should partner her is a bit of a debate. Samira Lindström of Raynor City United is clearly the most talented of the three other centerbacks who have been called up but it has been Maurer who has been in the best form with their club and shown the most steel in deal with opposing attackers, so she gets the nod to start the tournament.

Midfielders
LW: Julia Holt, age 29, Ulsa

(F)
AML/ST: Lucas Winkel, age 26, Stein-los Turkish

D/MC: Siegfried Franz, age 33, Mar Sara FC
DMC: Nino Jonsson, age 32, Wexax United
MC: Selim Estrada Barrientos, age 30, Raynor City United
MC: Liam Sæthre, age 29, Mâ Âlâmëómë

MC: Julia Strömberg, age 26, Hondo FC (F)
AMC/ST: Laborious Hawk, age 761, Myana

AMC: Alessandro Nyman, age 29, Soldarian FC
L/RW: Andreas Bjerk, age 29, Raynor City United
RW: Joacim Lind, age 31, Soldarian FC

Few words can truly encapsulate the sheer amount of skill and drive that Laborious Hawk provides in the middle of the park and with the change in formation, he will likely shift to being more of a shadow striker sort of position rather than a facilitator. The role of playmaker will likely fall upon the shoulders of Barrientos, although he is more used to playing a box to box role with United, but has shown the creative ability to be the playmaker in the middle. Liam Sæthre will be taking the spot behind him, with the Farfadillis based midfielder being a more well rounded player who can operate in a number of role and provides the sort of versatility to balance out Barrientos when a change is needed. Playing in behind them is a position that lacks a lot of depth and quality, which is why a pair of over thirty year olds made the team and why Franz continues to hold the position despite being a season or two out of retirement at this point, though it is hard to argue against their inclusion with the new formation and their continued results at the domestic level. The left is where the side has their biggest strength and on any given day one or the other could start, but Holt's corner ability gives her the edge to start out, while on the right new United signing Bjerk edges out their domestic competition but also a spot that could hopefully see some prospects developing in the next few years to improve the depth at the position.

Forwards
ST: Hadi Lundström, age 31, Raynor City United (F)
ST: Klara Holmberg, age 26, Megabrantid

(F)
ST: Imre Haaland, age 22, Stein-los Turkish

ST: Tuva Brekke, age 29, Mar Sara FC (F)

Haaland's time is soon, as the striker has demonstrated his sheer ability to manufacture goals from merely being in the right position at the right time with his footballing acumen and sheer physical abilities, but he's not quite there yet. Lundström with her form over the last several seasons with United is the clear choice to lead the front line, while Holmberg also is a good shout with being a more youthful and pacier version of the United striker. Brekke is a lot like Haaland, not neccassarily the best at producing magic out of thin air but working hard for her goals and being in a good place to get the distribution from the midfield to have high scoring opportunities, right place at the right time sort of striker. The wealth of talent up front does make some question the move to a single striker system but Millet's resume speaks volumes and there will no doubt be some adjustments and tinkering going on as the team and manager both learn to work off of one another and try to get the best out of the team on hand.

Captain: Laborious Hawk
Set Piece Taker: Laborious Hawk
Penalty Taker: Laborious Hawk
Right Corner: Julia Holt
Left Corner: Julia Holt

by **City of Myrtle Beach** » Sun Jan 14, 2024 11:38 am

Myrtle Beach NT: ARC1

THE STATS
Style modifier: +4.2
Tactics: Short passes from defense to midfield through the center, long passes from midfield to forward through the center
All time record at conclusion of CoH87: 21-3-13
First international game: Myrtle Beach 2 - 0 Syantivasha; MD1, TSP Cup 1
Biggest win: Myrtle Beach 3 - 0 Kvers Kingis; MD5, TSP Cup 1
Biggest loss: Myrtle Beach 2 - 5 Eshialand; MD1, WCQ 95 or Myrtle Beach 2 - 5 Brusseldorf; MD2, WCQ 95

THE ROSTER
Head coach: James Robinson
Assistant coach: Eric Hunt
Chief of Nonsense: John Jon

Starting XI

POS --- NAME --------------- CLUB ---------------
CF      Justin Stevens       Southport City
CF      Brian Farmer         Myrtle Beach FC

Starting off the Myrtle Beach lineup is one of the most accomplished forwards in Myrtle Beach football, and Justin Stevens. Farmer knows the game inside, outside, forwards, backwards, and just all the directions, really. He led Myrtle Beach FC to their second first-place finish in the MFA Gold League last season, and they are primed to do it once again. In addition, he led the team all the way to the playoff round of the IFCF Challengers' Cup. That's pretty far for an unranked team! Stevens, on the other hand, is more... lukewarm. He did lead Southport City to the first-place finish in the Gold League in its second season, but they've gone tumbling down the table. Hopefully they can bring it back, but who knows...

POS --- NAME --------------- CLUB ---------------
RM      Michael Norris       Kingsland Athletic
CM      Blake Campbell       Adamsville SC
CM      Jeremy Fulton        FC Northdale
LM      Eli Morris           Southport City

The midfield. Some say it's the most important part of the team. If you asked Eli Morris, he would say "no" because he's never touched the ball in his life, but if you asked the rest of the midfield they would agree with you. Most of these guys are the cream of the crop- Morris rallied Southport to a first-place finish in the Gold League a couple of seasons ago, Fulton led Northdale to glory in the National Cup, Campbell saved Adamsville from condemnation after the collapse of the Myrtle Super League a few years back, and Norris surely does something to help the team, I think.

POS --- NAME --------------- CLUB ---------------
RB      Max Byers            Southport City
CB      Donovan Hayes        Myrtle Beach FC
CB      Edgar Newman         Riverboro FC
LB      Cameron Mathis       Wilmington United

A change in the roster from the Cup of Harmony- Donovan Hayes has been chosen to start over Peter Perkins. Hayes is a defender for Myrtle Beach FC, who certainly stopped a few goals in their run in the IFCF. Newman is the principal defender for Riverboro FC, which in my opinion is one of the best and most ignored clubs in the Gold League. So far this season, he's been stopping forwards left and right and has brought the club up to the top of the table. Byers is a mediocre defender for Southport, but there's something in him that I don't see, apparently. He'd probably do better with a good club, but nobody's in the market right now.

And finally, last but certainly not least, is Mathis. You can't talk about defense in Myrtle Beach football without talking about him- he's certainly a sight to behold once he gets on the field. Before he started playing football, he was an intern at the West Florence Nuclear Plant before it melted down. He was there for the meltdown, actually! At a press conference after he was picked up by United, he said that the accident left him completely different from the way he was before. Then, he collapsed and phased through the ground, ending up beneath the stage. It took them an hour to get him out of there.

POS --- NAME --------------- CLUB ---------------
GK      Bradley Page         Myrtle Beach FC

Ah, the keeper. Page is indisputably the best keeper in Myrtle Beach, and he has been said to be the glue that holds the team together. He is the captain, and he makes sure everyone stays in line and everything goes well from his vantage point at the bottom of the field. It helps that he loves football- he spends hours and hours honing his skills and studying the laws of the game. Some say his love for football eclipses his love for everything else, but this is just not true. In fact, Page has said that the three things he loves the most are Jesus, guns, and football, in that order. A true Myrtle Beach patriot, you can find him on Sundays singing Christian rock in front of 10,000 people at his local evangelical baptist megachurch. He leads the team in prayer before every game, and he has "GOD IS GOOD" tattooed on his chest.

Subs

POS --- NAME --------------- CLUB ---------------
FW      Caleb Brennan        Myrtle Beach Union
FW      Dennis Hart          Kingsland Athletic
FW      Wesley Cain          FC Northdale
-------------------------------------------------
MF      Cody Bartlett        AFC Florence
MF      Austin Potts         Myrtle Beach Union
MF      Grant Wright         Adamsville SC
MF      Richard Anderson     Southport City
-------------------------------------------------
DF      Garrett Nixon        FC Northdale
DF      Ethan Carey          Adamsville SC
DF      Peter Perkins        AFC Florence
DF      Nolan Ellis          Wilmington City
-------------------------------------------------
GK      Colin Wade           West Florence AFC
GK      Isaac Webster        Hatteras FC

THE PERMISSIONS

Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes (Minor injuries only, please)
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes (no double yellows/automatic reds)
Hand out red cards to my players: No
Godmod other events: Yes

by **Oontaz Dert Li Ng** » Mon Jan 15, 2024 8:37 am

It was perhaps a cliché in geopolitics that nothing is set in stone forever, but in the grand scheme of things, nations moving in between regions isn’t usually considered part of that particular equation. However, for the Sultanate of Oontaz, which had long considered the region of Atlantian Oceania as its home, things were about to change in a groundbreaking way, and that last part could very well have been a literal thing given what actually happened.

One would expect that an entire nation moving regions, while impossible under most circumstances, would be something that would attract the attention of every single person living within said nation’s borders were it to happen. However, for the people of the Sultanate of Oontaz, the move might as well have been instantaneous. There was no telling when the move actually happened, although it had been accepted as fact that the move must have happened sometime in between three and six in the morning because most people went to sleep with the Sultanate being located in Atlantian Oceania, and they all woke up with their country now being located in a new place called Arrosia.

For all intents and purposes though, there appeared to be little difference between Arrosia and Atlantian Oceania, at least as far as geography was concerned. The Sultanate of Oontaz was still located in a place where it made sense for it to be located, so nothing much had changed on that particular front. Many nations which were once part of Atlantian Oceania had also ended up in Arrosia, meaning that many of the previous geopolitical networks that the Sultanate had previously established in its old region was still applicable in most cases. So, technically speaking, nothing much had really changed for the Sultanate of Oontaz except for where it was located in the greater and wider multiverse. Now, as to why the Sultanate was chosen for this epic and monumental move, no one really had an answer for that. Perhaps it was the will of Allah that the Sultanate should move to a new region, but it still didn’t answer the question of why. Perhaps it was a mystery that was going to remain forever unsolved.

One of the first things that the new region of Arrosia did, once everyone had gotten over the shock of having moved regions, was to establish a new football championship, because that was the obvious first step to dealing with having entire nations moved to different places in the multiverse. They might not have jumped immediately at the chance, but eventually the Sultanate of Oontaz did get around to becoming part of the first ever Arrosian Regional Championship. Formal membership procedures were still being ironed out so for the time being, simply showing up at Farfadillis with a full roster of players was the only requirement for joining the ARC. And now that everyone practically has a clean slate, it was now time for the Sultanate of Oontaz to chart its own path through history and the Arrosian Regional Championship.

by **Almuzahara** » Mon Jan 15, 2024 11:13 am

THE HOLY REPUBLIC OF ALMUZAHARA: ~~IAC~~ ARC ROSTER

FAST FACTS
Manager: Yusuf ALAOUI - 68
Assistant Manager: Araz FERNANDEZ - 39
Style Mod: +2.5
Formation: 4-3-3
Penalty Takers (in order of likelihood): Youssef Blanco, Ilyas Youssef, Kamel Cherkaoui, Youssef Córdoba, Abu Mansur
Free Kick Taker: Youssef Blanco
Corner-Kick Takers: Ahmed Medina (L), Ilyas Youssef (R)
Nickname: The Panthers
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: TG for Permission
RP injuries to my players: Yes, I determine severity
Godmod injuries to my players: No
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes, TG for Permission if more than one
Godmod other events: TG for Permission

TACTICS
The Panthers are famed for their constant energy. Without possession, they aggressively press, closing out on poor passers and players in vulnerable positions - especially on the flanks - as soon as the ball is lost. When the ball is won back, they push forwards, emphasizing verticality, quick movement, and teamwork over individual flair. It's an attractive style of football, but it is also a bit naïve, as they tend to wear down late in games and are a bit sloppy in the back. The recent change to five allowed substitutions rather than three should help Yusuf Alaoui out considerably, as he's recently pivoted to more "shift change" formations where many players are substituted out at the same time to reinvigorate the attack.

The key players in the system are Youssef Blanco, not the biggest goalscorer but a dynamite presser with a deft touch, and Abu Mansur, the team's defensive anchor, especially late in matches. With the retirements of the team's core playmakers in Ahmed Fernandez and Ali Al-Qushayri, there will be massive pressure on Nacer Berrada and Abdellah Elias to take on the creative load. Additionally, with stalwart captain Yussuf Bendahan gone, the defense may be more fragile than usual unless the relatively green duo of El Mehdi and Basheer can pick up the slack. There isn't much of an emphasis on width, except that provided by the tireless fullbacks al-Hadda and Youssef (the best player on the team), enabling Medina and Córdoba to cut inside and make plays in the box. Most of Almuzahara's goals will come from a devastating long-ball right after regaining possession, followed by a series of deft interplays in the box to stymie the defense with rapid passing before a shot opens up.

STARTING LINEUP
GK - 01. Abdel BEKKAYE - 37 - Al-Fayit - 42 caps, 7 clean sheets
LB - 14. Omar al-HADDA - 31 - Léonidas - 22 caps, 4 goals
CB - 04. Ammar EL MEHDI - 27 - Al-Fayit - 10 caps, 0 goals
CB - 07. Abdellatif BASHEER (VC) - 25 - Al-Fayit - 4 caps, 0 goals
RB - 17. Ilyas YOUSSEF - 31 - free agent (formerly Marlesee 97 (Siovanija and Teusland)) - 37 caps, 5 goals
CM - 18. Nacer BERRADA - 29 - KAC - 3 caps, 0 goals
DM - 08. Abu MANSUR (C) - 34 - Al-Watanin - 32 caps, 1 goal
CM/AM - 25. Abdellah ELIAS - 33 - Al-Watanin - 22 caps, 8 goals
LW - 21. Ahmed MEDINA - 23 - Benhaddou - uncapped
FW - 06. Youssef BLANCO (VC) - 35 - Al-Fayit - 28 caps, 10 goals
RW - 11. Youssef CÓRDOBA - 24 - Al-Fayit - 7 caps, 3 goals

RESERVES
GK - 12. Said ABDULRAHMAN - 34 - Alqamar - 2 caps, 0 clean sheets
GK - 13. Mohamed AL-HARRAK - 36 - Al-Watanin - 3 caps, 0 clean sheets
LB - 02. Hadi CALLISTO - 30 - Makundu Restoration - 6 caps, 0 goals
CB - 03. Abbas BENSAÏD - 24 - Al-Fayit - uncapped
CB - 15. Habib GONZALEZ - 29 - Léonidas - 2 caps, 1 goals
RB - 04. Hassan MEZQUITA - 24 - Atlas Alfira - uncapped
CM - 05. Rashid AVERROES - 36 - free agent (formerly US San Savola (San Ortelio)) - 45 caps, 4 goals
DM - 19. Sebastian HERRERA - 32 - Léonidas - 8 caps, 0 goals
AM - 16. Marcos ÁLVAREZ - 19 - Atlas Alfira - 9 caps, 0 goals
LW - 10. Kamel CHERKAOUI - 28 - Al-Fayit - 11 caps, 2 goals
ST - 20. Mehdi RAHMAN - 27 - Al-Watanin - 3 caps, 0 goals
RW - 22. Marouane TAZI - 25 - Al-Watinin - 13 caps, 2 goals

ABOUT ALMUZAHARA
Since Almuzahara's independence and later liberation in 1956, it has become a haven of Islam, socialism, and football in ~~southwestern S̷͇̤̈́̌̽o̴̡̐͒͗n̷̬̈́n̵̪͕͉͌̎͝e̶̡͕͐l̴̝̜͛~~help, most well-known to the international community for hosting the twelfth edition of the prestigious Independent Associations Championship. Almuzahara itself is a tropical, pious, democratic socialist nation bordered to the west by ~~S̵͎̺̰̏͒̔ẽ̵̲̖̲̚v̴͈͍̮̅ę̵̦̮̓́n̷̨̻̻̋d̶̢̐i̸̪͔̱̔̾ā̶̧͖̮͆̅~~where is everybody and to the northwest by ~~J̸̨͉̔u̵͙͐́̍v̸̛̪̲̈́̍e̴̜͙͐n̴͓̍͂ͅc̸̨͍̎u̸͈̇͌̚ś̷̱͐~~what is this?. While relatively small in population, with most of the nation’s twenty-nine million concentrated in the northern coastal regions rather than the interior jungle, the nation boasts a wide variety of natural and cultural attractions, and Almuzahara punches above its weight in regional and international competition. A more in-depth guide to the nation of Almuzahara, which is correct in most ways except for one extremely major one, can be found here.

by **Almuzahara** » Mon Jan 15, 2024 11:47 am

Squeezed uncomfortably into a window seat, Yusuf Alaoui squinted at his laptop screen through his headache, as if a fifth consecutive trip through the scouting notes he had pulled up would yield something the first four had not. The past decade had not been good for Almuzaharan football, and nobody was feeling that more than the man in charge of the Panthers ever since The Council had decided to ramp up investment in sporting projects, with the ultimate goal - eventually fulfilled - of hosting an international tournament such as the IAC. The spending had brought waves of talented young players to an increasingly-modernized league, as well as a thorough reworking of the public transportation and urban infrastructure as the nation made itself ready to host such a tournament. IAC12 was a massive success, and it seemed like Almuzahara was on the cusp of a golden age of football.

One economic meltdown later, things weren't so rosy. When the dust settled, there was a new Council in charge, one that viewed the excesses of the previous regime as being what had led Almuzahara into such a mess in the first place. Spending at all levels dried up, a wave of promising youngsters found their careers diverted elsewhere, and the slow decline began. Yusuf had barely kept the national team alive at all, what was becoming a Golden Generation by default of players slowly aging but finding themselves with no replacements. Even as the team flew out to the island of Urupina, just off Almuzahara's coast, for their pre-IAC training camp, Yusuf was struggling to find a way to rework his high-energy, high-pressing system to fit a bunch of guys in their mid-thirties. But there was no use continuing to pore through all these notes when his head hurt. A concerningly large dose of melatonin it would have to be, and then maybe he could make some progress when he woke up.

Things were remarkably hazy when Yusuf awoke, to the point where he was starting to wonder if it had just been a headache after all. He could still make out the vague outlines of an airplane around him, but when he opened the airplane window to what should've been the bright sky of mid-morning, it was pitch-black, and a further look around the mist failed to reveal the characteristic outlines of any of his players or staff. It was as if he was the only one that had boarded the plane at all.

WELCOME, YUSUF, said the voice. Yusuf tried to locate it, but could only trace it to the center of the haze.
"Are we, uh, still on the plane?" Yusuf asked.
YOU ARE NOT. GUIDED BY OUR HAND, YOU HAVE PIERCED THE WALL BETWEEN THE TWO WORLDS, AND NO LONGER EXIST SOLELY IN THE MORTAL PLANE.
"I meant the airplane."
AH. YOU ARE ALSO NOT ON THAT. YOU ARE BEYOND THE RIVER, AS IS ALMUZAHARA.
"Beyond the mortal plane...did something happen to Almuzahara? Is it dead?"
The mist suddenly shone brightly, and if Yusuf looked closely, he could see its tendrils work into a series of images. They spoke of warfare, unspeakable devastation, and the end of the Holy Republic. He couldn't quite place any of the images in modern-day Almuzahara, but they were indisputably Almuzaharan, even if the time of destruction was unclear. Already fearful, he was suddenly filled with an unimaginable sense of horror.
NOT DEAD. SIMPLY FROZEN, IN THE LAND BEYOND THE RIVER.
"...the river?"
YOU WOULD CALL IT TIME. BUT WHAT IS FROZEN CAN BE UNFROZEN.
Yusuf stared into the mist. He could feel its spray on his face. "Why am I talking to you if I'm frozen?"
ONLY WHAT IS DESTROYED IS CLAIMED BY THE LAND BEYOND THE RIVER. BUT TO EACH LAND WE CONQUER, WE OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REDEMPTION. YOU AND YOUR MEN WILL PLAY FOR ALMUZAHARA TO BE UNFROZEN.
The gears were starting to turn. "So, what, we have to win the IAC? And then you'll restore Almuzahara to...what, exactly?"
CLOSE. BUT WE HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CHALLENGE IN MIND. IT IS...SOMEWHAT DOWNSTREAM, IF NOT TOO FAR, FROM WHERE YOU LAST SLEPT. HOWEVER, IT IS FAR UPSTREAM FROM WHAT YOU SAW IN THE MIST. GOOD LUCK, YUSUF ALAOUI.

OOC Note to Groupmates: ICly, Almuzahara is still a normal and relatively functioning nation at the time of ARC 1, although no clear consensus exists geographically about how it has moved to Arrosia from Sonnel.

by **Squornshelan Remnant States** » Tue Jan 16, 2024 6:01 am

Squornshelan Remnant States Black-and-Reds Roster
Arrosian Regional Championship 1

RP Permissions
Choose my scorers: Y
Choose my scoring events: Y
Godmod scoring events: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y
Godmod Injuries to my players: Y
Give Yellow Cards to my players: Y
Give Red Cards to my players: Y
Godmod other events: Y
An ye harm none, do as ye will.
Style Modifier: +5

Things you should know about the SRS:

Once upon a time, there was the Imperium of Squornshelous, a militaristic, totalitarian state which took great pride in its football team. Squornshelous entered every World Cup from the 5th edition to the 41st, successfully qualifying all but once, and winning the 31st edition of the tournament. After World Cup 41, however, a civil war erupted which ended with the nation divided in to the democratic Confederacy of Squornshelan Remnant States, and the shrunken but still dangerous Imperium holding onto its island heartland. Both nations disappeared from the international stage for the next 40 World Cup Cycles. The SRS returned to international football for Cycle 81, and was joined by the Imperium during Cycle 84. During Cycle 88, another revolt in the Imperium destabilized the government so much that the nation essentially collapsed, and its constituencies applied for membership in the Confederacy. It was also around this time that Squornshelous/SRS arrived in Atlantian Oceania, having previously competed as an Independent.

While the football team has a rich history from the old days, new successes have only come fairly recently. The team has qualified for five straight World Cups, but has only advanced past the Group Stage twice in the modern era, and has yet to win a knockout match since returning. They did finally claim a piece of international silverware at the 69th AOCAF Cup (nice), but have thus far failed to follow up that success. The Black-and-Reds qualified, but failed to earn a point in the first round of World Cup 94, and exited AOCAF Cup 70 at the quarterfinal stage. They then failed to qualify for World Cup 95 despite a fairly good record, resulting in Gareth Penrooke's dismissal, and did not make the knockout rounds at the ensuing Cup of Harmony, ensuring that caretaker manager Irfun Melkum would not have a chance of taking the job on a permanent basis.

From a wide open field that included names like former Algolia boss Dolvin Antal and former Polarian NT manager Iosef Miroshnichenko, among others, an eleventh hour dark horse ended up taking the race. It shouldn't come as a huge surprise that someone like Dudu Madeiros was given serious consideration. The Juven does, after all, have a major international trophy on his office shelf from the 18th Independent Associations Championship, as well as third place medals from the prior IAC edition, and the 84th Cup of Harmony. His reputation for recruiting fresh talent in the NT pool during his tenure with la Squadra is also a plus as the SCFA looks to find the Squornshelan national team's new identity. The main angle for doubters thus far has to do with his old team's other nickname: gli Attacanti. Under Madeiros, Juvencus implemented the Pomenienze, a high-pressure all out attacking system that was extremely demanding of its players in terms of athleticism and endurance, and most often employed a wing-focused 3-4-3 setup. It's a pretty far cry though, from the centrally focused, possession-based 4-2-3-1 that the Black-and-Reds have employed more or less unchanged for the past 20 years, first under Omerican manager Anne-Sophie Groothuis from her debut at IAC10, and more recently under Gareth Penrooke since World Cup 93.

Trigram: SRS
Manager: Dudu Madeiros

Formation: 3-4-3
Captain: Sevet-Ibilx Kai
Vice Captain: Ffraid Norling
Long Form Name: The Confederacy of Squornshelan Remnant States
Short Form Names: Squornshelan Confederacy, The Confederacy, Squornshelous, the SRS
Demonyms: Confederate (political); Squornshelan (cultural, not always PC)
Ethnicites in the Confederacy include Squornshelan, Molvanian, Brantid, Algolian, Sivolvian, and Han. If you are curious about a particular player's ethnicity you can send me a TG or message me on discord
Team Nickname: Black-and-Reds (never Red-and-Blacks)
Team Colors: Confederate Red (#EE0000) and Black (#000000)
Goalkeepers:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
31 Radoslav Blaha     28   He/Him    Aries Chariots
 1 Paiva Shimski      35  She/Her    AFC Treason
41 Shreya Krusan      30  She/Her    Perce Town

Not much turnover here. Blaha and Shimski have been among the best in the Zenith for a while now, though their club futures are a bit uncertain with recent developments in Nephara. Krusan is also hard to overlook. Heiskanen could've just as easily been included, but at 35, perhaps represents more the team's past than its future. The future in goal is a bit of a mystery too, with only Ved and Sotelo really worth mentioning among the other keepers under 20.

Right Backs:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
28 Ffraid Norling     28  She/Her    Chalesm FC
 3 Goron Sauber       29   He/Him    Ridgewell Rovers

No need to mess with success at fullback. Norling has been among the best in the Superleague for a while now, and anchors a very strong Chalesm back line. Sauber sometimes flies under the radar at Ridgewell, but is still regarded as a solid defender in his homeland.

Left Backs:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
32 Piia Drenel        25  She/Her    Algolia AC
16 Vaihere Kamgang    24  She/Her    Istria City FC

Here we start to see the youth, though neither Drenel nor Kamgang is a newcomer to the team. Both are well-rounded fullbacks, and have the endurance to execute the high pressure tactics now expected of them.32

Center Backs:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
24 Hamida Van         25  She/Her    Algolia AC
 5 Valtteri Tirel     24   He/Him    AFC Treason
 4 Marko Peynir       22   He/Him    Golgafrincham

Paring the defense to a back three means some tough decisions had to be made at center back. Youth and potential are certainly the watchwords here as the national team appears ready to bid farewell to Titov and Yarlut, and perhaps even Jagdish as well in favor of proven youngsters Van and Tirel. Madeiros has also called up uncapped Peynir after strong performances off the bench in the Archers' promotion push, and a promotion to starter for the current season.

Midfielders:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
19 Sevet-Ibilx Kai    27 They/Them   Brantisvogan FC
 9 Embla Avachinsky   27  She/Her    Lhor
 6 Nur Amjol          24   He/Him    Sivolvia Capitalizt
66 Ukko Saigir        26   He/Him    Haligonian
26 Maram Tatsinan     22  She/Her    Lakewood United
 8 Paavo Rai          21   He/Him    Chalesm

End of an era. No Mithya Hashemi and no Tyra Volam, and at their age it's hard to see either finding their way back into the side in the future. Sevet-Ibilx gets the armband; they're among the most capped of the players on the current roster. Avachinsky looks the favorite to start alongside them, providing the attacking counterpart to the Qusma dual national's more holding style. Behind that it's a logjam of young talent still relatively unproven on the international stage. Amjol and Saigir have done the most to distinguish themselves thus far, earning 8 and 9 caps respectively over the past cycle, and each has been a starter for their club, while Tatsinan and Rai have only just reached that level in the current season. Tatsinan does have five caps to her credit, but mostly from the bench, late in matches.

Right Wings:

#  Player             Age    Pro.    Club
55 Tiiu Aaltonen       28  She/Her    Club ESF
 7 Yamuna Khachat      28  She/Her    Syneca
20 Mumin Sgro          28   He/Him    Northandryun Rovers

Aaltonen is still the clear first choice out right if you only have one wing slot open, but the formation switch opens the door to some movement behind. Khachat, who has been just the wrong side of the dividing line a few times, gets her chance now, though unlike the other two she's more an assist getter than scorer. Sgro likewise has always been on the outside looking in before, but has done well for himself at Northandryun, and will get at least some chance now. Look for Aaltonen to play further forward any time she's on the field with one of the other two listed here.

Left Wings:

#  Player             Age    Pro.    Club
15 Tarbi Ksudach       23   He/Him    Brantisvogan FC
27 Oystein Shakhnovich 25   He/Him    Sivolvia Capitalizt
17 Soile Raynott       22  She/Her    Megabrantid

. Ksudach and Shakhnovich were no-brainers to include here, both are complete wingers who can cross, shoot, and dribble‧ The only surprise is that Thorgnyr Bondarov, still a useful goalscorer at 33 is left out. Rumors from close to the team also say that he wasn't even the fourth choice, and that had Raynott been ruled out Akhila Arda of Damogran would've been chosen. It speaks to a wealth of talent at left wing for the Black-and-Reds, which should hopefully play well with Madeiros's wide focus.

Forwards:

#  Player            Age    Pro.    Club
10 Rasha Sargsa       28  She/Her    Sivolvia Capitalizt
18 Snorre Fridtjofs   33   He/Him    Carathyr Emeralds FC
14 Andze Nedeljkovic  33   He/Him    Frenei Tor
11 Ottilia Hjort      28  She/Her    Dynamo Sjoedrhavn

Up front is one of the areas where the tactical transition may prove especially tricky. Sargsa is still unrivaled at the top, and will occupy the central position more often than not. The question will be how well the others can adapt to playing in wider positions, and whether we'll see the Black-and-Reds stable of talented but aging strikers thinned out before the next World Cup.

Anticipated First Team:

by **Qasden** » Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:16 am

We've been through 3 managers in the span of 2 cycles now, and yet, the Qasden Association Football Association (QAFA) still believes that the path being taken is truthful, but half these guys don't even know when to start the next new era.

Lori's debut tournament as the next face of football in the nation casted an immediate spell of dread in her indefinite tenure. Uninspiring draws to Sarzonia and Cardenao gave way to an early tourney red light at the cleats of Huayramarca, giving the federation an unsavory group stage exit at the Cup they once dominated to boast for the Age of Vandelhaar. Assumedly this would mark the end of her trial, but rather than scrap and review, the FA instead ditched DeFlummox in favor of suiting Lori with Guillermo Mordecai, a senior citizen who managed to convince her to adopt strategies more palatable with the Vans' sensibilities. Still, the team is in turmoil, and with the premiere tournament of Arrosia moving closer into its peripheral crosshairs, there's really not much to do other than pray. Though I suppose they'd be doing that regardless, it is held on the regionally acclaimed stable island nation of Farfadillis, after all.
Style: 0
Preferred Formation: 4-4-2
Nicknames: The Vans | Calcio Calico | The Blue-Reds
Lori Vandelhaar
Age: 45|Position: Manager|Last Known Affiliation: Qasden NT
Once praised to be the true successor of Munson, Vandelhaar's managerial career has been off to a rocky start. Shortcomings at the Cup of Harmony have hampered the efforts and tarnished the history of Lori's acclaimed background within the Qasden football sphere, and while her defense first strategies felt prime in the qualifiers, the ARC is another beast in of itself. Can a sudden shake up in tactics save Lori's spot before her key card gets demagnetized?
Guillermo Mordecai
Age: 66|Position: Assistant Manager|Last Known Affiliation: Qasden NT
Through the infernal revolving door now arrives Guillermo Mordecai, former sporting director for the Academy of the Interior and associated regions of interest. During his previous tenure, Momo's experience and leisure within the footballing backwaters allowed the once overlooked school to gradually snowball into a respected and successful campus strong enough to even rival that of QAFAcademy. As one would expect, the federation wasn't about to have their bread and butter get shown up like that, so they paid Mordecai a shitload of money to hire him on as the next supposed full-timer for the NT assistant manager position. Whether having been coached by him or coached against him, much of the National Team has already been acquainted with the senior clipboard king, but a regional tournament is no small school affair.
Zinnia Thurstan
Age: 33|Position: Goal Keeper|Last Known Affiliation: Hawthorne Kickers
No matter how many times they looked away, Thurstan can never, ever be stopped. Consistently validated with a dedicated career at Xanneria's Hawthorne Kickers, Zinnia's know-how around the net has proven invaluable to the National Team's efforts for as long as we've started counting ages right.
Substitute Goal Keepers
Gaunting Norwood|28|WEA
Justin Allgood|22|Dalton Town FC
Cameron Allan
Age: 27|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Brantisvogan
A fierce and renowned product of the Post-Zimari era, Allan proved his worth as a dominant defender through a multitude of successes found at Brantisvogan. His avant-garde tactics have swooned the blue-red base to a point of becoming what he always wanted to be: trivia night fodder.
Carl K. Umstroke
Age: 23|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Dury FC
From a young age, Umstroke's indescribably exceptional talent at blue balling any attacker's day got him a pair of crosshairs hovering over his contract signing hand. A key factor in the DBC 55 title run, Carl waxed and wow'd during his stay with Quebec's Perce Town, to the extent of even earning dual-citizenship. He now joins Dury FC as the top transfer out from the Q League this past season, becoming the 2nd Qad and 1st player to break into the Poafmersian market.
Aristide Quickley
Age: 34|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Blue Mountain Range
Thought to have been past his prime, Quickley found himself returning back to the Starting XI after a single campaign absence in part due to his blossoming success and a grandfather defender in Astograth's Blue Mountain Range organization, helping them dominate in a magical title run season. Aristide is an excellent fighter and tactic-savvy defender that's often sought out by newcomers for advice, but also just an all-around healthy personality to have in such a heated game.
Sang-Hun Noel
Age: 28|Position: Defender|Last Known Affiliation: Passerine
While Noel had always hung around the national team in reserves, his increasingly incredible performances at Kelssek's Passerine were becoming too noticeable to ignore. Formerly co-opting the team with star Ronin Otero, Noel now finds himself a captain abroad, eager to prove himself worthy of the title for the National Team.
Substitute Defenders
Oliver Paul|22|Champagne Night
Cora Varnham|34|Fallwich United
Mason Bentley|21|Vna-Chuhul Ravens FC
Khasan Kubo|30|Columbia
Michelle McCracken
Age: 35|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Brattleboro FC
Regarded as one of the most dominant faces within the Zimari generation of players, McCracken was recruited as part of a shortlist of female players drafted when developing the legendary AOCAF 62 squad. Michelle's personality is professionally competitive, being quick to assert herself as the commanding individual on the field, gaining Darsten's trust in her taking over as Team Captain. Even now, in the twinkling twilight of her career, McCracken's fire still burns white hot as a cornerstone captain for Cassadaiguan giants, Brattleboro.
Ronin Otero
Age: 23|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: CF Outineau
In the highly competitive midfield scene, Otero was always just one step away from making the starting XI. Now, he finds himself at the forefront of a formation coded in his honor. An incredible mind and heart, Ronin served much of his domestic career within the track of Kelssek's Passerine before excelling prominently enough to garner the intrigue of one of the nation's giants: CF Outineau. There he helped the club win a fierce cycle, earning 'Young Player of the Season', and finally, after all this time, getting his chance to make a mark on the Vans' starting XI.
Genivieve Orville
Age: 31|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Aminey CS
An S-Tier graduate of the QAFAcademy, Genivieve's successful leadership at the 2nd Jenna Raven Cup, paired with a stellar performance with Bruul Skewers, established her legacy as she took over the captaincy from McCracken. A well known face in the Vans, Orville's tactile approach to analytically running away with the scoreline has kept her successes high in Ko-oren, netting her a longlist nomination on the Testiculos (now Tornados), an achievement highly celebrated by her partner and former teammate, Scottie Kaestre.
Lor Starcutter
Age: 22|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Romanopolis United
In a distant life, she was a forgotten face among academy prospects, always behind the next shiny new star to flop on the field. However, her time rising through the ranks of Kelssek football would pay off in massive dividends upon her ascension to Kirkenes FC, where her uncanny ability to win just about anything had alerted more than enough analysts to her value as a player and friend to the Vans. Here she helped the Red Firm secure the coveted IFCF Champions League trophy, and has even helped lead Qasden to a DBC title, it's first addition to the football cabinet since CoH 70. She enters ARC as one of the highest transfers out from the Championship, now a major piece in the rebuilding efforts of Darmen's Romanopolis United.
Substitute Midfielders
Alice Sauvage|27|Megabrantid
Marco Bruno|27|Sporting Ittuributa
Shug de la Fontaine|37|Loxthorpe Rovers FC
Lana Boreal|21|Damogran
Jaylyn Bone
Age: 35|Position: Forward|Last Known Affiliation: Algolia
A legendary forward, Jaylyn was brought about as a prodigy from the eastern border town of Chevlin. Bone's successes with Algolia have kept him front and center as one Qasden's greatest goalscorers on record, though now finds the pressure building to get the nation over the hump as his time on the XI nears its end.
Ander Galleon
Age: 21|Position: Midfielder|Last Known Affiliation: Østad Pillar
The next new thing to hit the block, Ander Galleon's dramatic rise to the spotlight was launched the moment he helped the UnderVans win DBC 55. Known by Qads online as 'The Guy Replacing Jaylyn Bone', the young striker has been making tidal waves abroad in the league of United Hawkland, where his incredible feats at Østad Pillar are prime for him to make the jump to QAFA stardom.
Substitute Forwards
Devin Ruby|23|Pale City
Cloveria No'Bell|27|Longwood Lionesses
Lacey Lane|24|Hornchurch
I Give My Opponent Permission To
Choose My Goalscorers: Y
Godmod Goalscoring Events: Y
Injure Players: Y&N (get my ok first)
Godmod Injury Events: N
Red Card Players: Y&N (get my ok first)
Yellow Card Players: Y
Godmod anything else: No major harming of my players, venues, cities, you get the idea. Other than that, it's fairly fair game.

by **Dajkotav** » Wed Jan 17, 2024 12:59 pm

Nickname: The Wranglers
Style mod: -4
Manager: Valentin Canarie
Colors: Navy blue, cream, blood red.
Preferred goalscorers: Axl Courtenay, Joachim Christianson, Trym Rayne, Kaleb Abram.

Starting XI (MAIN)
Axl Courtenay (ST, 24) #9
Joachim Christianson (CAM, 26) #10
Kaleb Abram (CAM, 21) #30
Kenelm Head (LM, 30) #11
Trym Rayne (RM, 25) #8
Makaio Adam (CDM, 19) #5
Hercule Sergeant (LB, 28) #6
Baldric Garland (CB, 32) #3
Boyd Rey (CB, 24) #4
Dominic Devereux (RB, 29) #2
Andrii Belrose (GK, 28) #1

Substitutes
Elliott Savatier (ST, 18) #15
Ikaika Beck (CM, 22) #25
Grégoire Chaplin (RM, 29) #13
Sylvanus Coke (CDM/CB, 27) #22
Rafe Leon (RB, 18) #19
Haydn Petrenko (CB, 32) #18
Iokua Kai-Kapono (GK, 17) #16

The Dajkotav Football Union, (DFU) was formed on a whim just three weeks before this AFC, revolting against the now-discontinued Dajkot Football Federation. Galileo Bolt, a former convicted felon and entrepreneur who owns Speedy Foods, the leading retail store in Dajkotav, and the Rehabiliated Peoples Union non-profit, takes over this new venture with a budget of just over 35 million Spurs. The company also had a rather controversial beginning, hostilizing the public DFF and discontinuing the federation.
Before you start thinking that this is awful and we should boycott, it should be noted that the DFF wasn't exactly an impeccable utopia themselves. They were riddled with controversy, from paying their players in peanuts to overworking them past legal hours, to draw nil-nil to the B team of Emeraldreach because they weren't conditioned nor strategized. The players were secretly hoping for a way out, and they were beyond excited about the creation of the DFU. With teamwork and a strategy nearly perfected, they intend to make a statement run in the inaugural ARC. We won't tell you how they will play, because it needs to be a surprise, but it will definitely be gegenpressing.

If my opponent RP first, they may (and are encouraged to) do the following

Choose my scorers:                  Yes
Choose scoring events:              Yes
God-mod scoring events:             Yes
RP injuries to my players:          Light only (Rest of match)
God-mod injuries to my players:     No
Yellow card my players:             Yes 
Red card my players:                Substitutes only, please
God-mod other events:               Ask first

by **Txakhaxi** » Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:41 pm

OOC note on my coming RPs: I'll be RPing in Spanish. This isn't my personal preference, but since I don't really have much time and translating is very time consuming for me I decided to do it this way, at least in cases like this one where there's a Spanish-speaking host. If anyone is really interested in interacting with whatever I'm doing on my RPs or wants clarification with any translation I'll be happy to go out of my way to make it work. Sorry guys!

Historia del Chajayi

Etapa Lítica

El primer registro de actividad antrópica en la región data de 7000 años antes del Nuevo Calendario (a.K. = Aiko fu Kanihaiñe, en chajayi), o alrededor de 9000 antes del presente. Se trata de la Cueva de Mayejuta, al este de la cordillera de Sakogae, en el actual estado de Najague Saugay. Allí se encontró un antiguo campamento de verano donde un grupo de cazadores-recolectores habría llevado a cabo un ritual con herramientas y ornamentos hechos de hueso. De ahí que se conozca a estos grupos primitivos como la Cultura de los Huesos Pulidos. El registro arqueológico de los milenios posteriores es abundante y diverso.

La agricultura se desarrolló en la región alrededor del 5000 a.K., con la domesticación de plantas como el trigo y el maíz, entre otros, favoreciendo la sedentarización. No obstante, debido al terreno predominantemente montañoso, el extenso perímetro de línea costera y la abundancia de cuerpos de agua dulce, el cultivo de cereales no llegó a reemplazar otros medios de abastecimiento centrados en los ríos y mares. El establecimiento de asentamientos agrícolas parece haberse retrasado sustancialmente sobre algunas de las islas, donde los registros de grupos nómadas con estilos de vida recolectores y vinculados a la pesca y la caza en los pantanos predominan hasta aproximadamente mil años después de la aparición de las primeras comunidades sedentarias sobre el continente. Se cree que la revolución agrícola habría llegado por medio de los pueblos del norte, aunque el Instituto Juyabaja de Antropología -referente chajayi en el campo- sostiene que habrían sido los propios pobladores de la región quienes la desarrollaron hasta medio milenio antes de que la vertiente norteña alcanzara la región.

El inicio de la cultura adayaja antigua se sitúa aproximadamente 4500 años antes del presente, con el desarrollo de la alfarería. El período que comprende el siguiente milenio constituye el esplendor de esta civilización, cuando se desarrollaron tecnologías líticas más avanzadas, construcciones monumentales tales como la Ciudad Enterrada o el Gainakhaitu, un calendario ritual de dos ciclos de 183 días, una numeración con base 6 y un sistema de escritura, originalmente para uso mnemotécnico y de señalización. Varios pueblos adayaja llegaron a construir ciudades enteras que fomentaron el comercio y produjeron un aumento en la movilidad entre las islas, homogeneizando culturalmente la región. Pese a su progreso en diversos campos, esta cultura no trascendió más allá de la cordillera al norte de la península. Para el año 2000 a.K. ya hacían uso del metal y poseían conocimientos de astronomía y matemáticas notables. Las primitivas instituciones adayaja fueron robusteciéndose sobre la base de una sociedad esclavista con una aristocracia cada vez más prominente.

Época Tuaimanoiquí

Esta época se sitúa entre los años 1500 y 900 a.K. y su nombre se debe a la civilización de los tuaimanos, un pueblo étnicamente chaja y hablante del idioma chaja antiguo que se asentó al pie de las montañas llegando por tierra desde el norte, de donde habían sido desplazados. Este evento migratorio acabó afectando considerablemente la región, porque constituye el punto de ruptura con la primacía de los pueblos adayaja en la península. Los tuaimanos eran un pueblo guerrero y más orientado a la agricultura, organizado bajo cacicazgos regionales. No tardaron en extenderse a lo largo de la cordillera de Sakogae, donde los adayaja nativos no solían adentrarse, puesto que una buena parte de su producción se centraba en la pesca y la recolección de alimento en cuerpos de agua dulce y salada. Se sabe que el nivel de tecnología del que disponían los tuaimanos era inferior al de los adayajas nativos y tanto sus instituciones políticas como sus ejércitos estaban mucho menos organizados. Sin embargo, contaron con dos grandes ventajas que les permitieron superar a los nativos y, para el 1350 a.K. aproximadamente, desplazarlos casi por completo del territorio continental. Por un lado, su cultura guerrera les garantizaba soldados mejor predispuestos física y anímicamente y una población en las ciudades mejor preparada para resistir los embates de los ejércitos adayaja. Por otra parte, los tuaimanos habían logrado domesticar a la cebra, lo que les permitía causar estragos a afueras de las fortalezas adayaja empleando incursores montados. Con la ventaja de la cebra, los tuaimanos también conseguían desbaratar las avanzadas de los ejércitos adayaja con emboscadas rápidas y saquear sus campamentos militares.

La conquista de sus territorios sobre el continente significó un retroceso masivo para los adayaja, cuyas principales ciudades y centros culturales y religiosos se encontraban sobre la península y fueron derruidos por los tuaimanos. Los tres siglos siguientes a la conquista tuaimanoiquí constituyen una edad oscura, debida principalmente a la caída en desuso del sistema de escritura de los adayaja y el carácter ágrafo de los tuaimanos, aunque se sabe con certeza que estos últimos no lograron establecerse sobre las islas, donde las fortalezas adayaja estaban mejor protegidas, además de poseer una marcada superioridad naval.

Durante este período de debacle se perdió en gran medida la cohesión entre los adayaja del oeste y aquellos asentados en el archipiélago del este, hoy en día bajo el estado de Adaya Chacra, particularmente por la caída del comercio y el retroceso a un esquema de producción más primitivo. En Chacra encontramos los restos de grandes ciudades que datan de esa época y parecen indicar un breve resurgimiento del esplendor de la civilización adayaja, con la recuperación de las construcciones de piedra y el establecimiento de santuarios en las montañas. No obstante, estas ciudades fueron azotadas por una catástofre natural poco tiempo después de su construcción y cayeron en desgracia. Hasta el siglo X a.K. el Chajayi Antiguo se encuentra mayormente desorganizado, con los tuaimanos conteniendo redadas de los pueblos norteños sobre el continente y los pueblos adayajas combatiéndose entre sí por el dominio de las islas. Recién para este entonces comienzan a establecerse estados de derecho de los que no se han encontrado leyes escritas, pero se sabe que existieron por registros de arte cerámico que parecen indicar penas para distintos crímenes. Estas sociedades, probablemente muy inestables y pequeñas, habrían retornado al esquema de producción esclavista y lejos quedaría el viejo equilibrio de sus ciudades primitivas.

Lithic Age:

The first record of human activity in the region dates back to 7000 years before the New Calendar (a.K. = Aiko fu Kanihaiñe, in txakhaxi), or around 9000 years before the present. This occurred at the Maxekhuta Cave, located east of the Sakogae mountain range in the actual state of Nakhage Saugai. An ancient camp was discovered there, where a group of hunter-gatherers is believed to have performed a ritual using tools and ornaments made of bone. These primitive groups are known as the Polished Bone Culture. The archaeological record of the subsequent millennia is extensive and diverse.

Agriculture developed in the region around 5000 a.K., with the domestication of plants such as wheat and corn, among others, promoting sedentarization. However, due to the predominantly mountainous terrain, the extensive coastline, and the abundance of freshwater bodies, cereal cultivation did not entirely replace other means of subsistence focused on rivers and seas. The establishment of agricultural settlements was notably delayed on some islands, where records of nomadic groups with hunter-gatherer lifestyles linked to fishing and hunting in marshes prevailed until approximately a thousand years after the appearance of the first sedentary communities on the continent. It is believed that the agricultural revolution may have arrived from the north, although the Huxabakha Institute of Anthropology, a Txakhaxi reference in the field, argues that the region's inhabitants themselves developed it half a millennium before the northern influence reached the area.

The beginning of the ancient Adaxakha culture is approximately 4500 years before the present, marked by the development of pottery. The following millennium constitutes the peak of this civilization when more advanced lithic technologies were developed, and monumental constructions such as the Buried City and the Gainakhaitu, a ritual calendar with two cycles of 183 days, a base-6 numbering system, and a writing system originally used for mnemonic and signaling purposes. Various Adaxakha peoples built entire cities that fostered trade and increased mobility between the islands, culturally homogenizing the region. Despite progress in various fields, this culture did not extend beyond the mountain range north of the peninsula. By 2000 B.C., they were already using metal and possessed notable knowledge in astronomy and mathematics. The primitive Adaxakha institutions strengthened based on a slave society with an increasingly prominent aristocracy.

Tuaimanoiki Age:

This era is situated between 1500 and 900 a.K., and its name comes from the Tuaiman civilization, an ethnically Txakha people who spoke the ancient Txakha language. They settled at the foothills of the mountains, arriving by land from the north, where they had been displaced. This migratory event significantly impacted the region, marking a break with the primacy of the Adaxakha peoples on the peninsula. The Tuaimans were a warrior people more oriented towards agriculture, organized under regional chieftains. They quickly expanded along the Sakogae mountain range, where native Adaxakha people seldom ventured, as a substantial part of their production focused on fishing and gathering food in freshwater and saltwater bodies. It is known that the technological level of the Tuaimans was lower than that of the native Adaxakhas, and both their political institutions and armies were much less organized. However, they had two significant advantages that allowed them to almost completely displace the natives from the continental territory by around 1350 B.C.

On one hand, their warrior culture ensured soldiers who were physically and mentally better predisposed, and a city population better prepared to withstand the onslaught of Adaxakha armies. On the other hand, the Tuaimans had successfully domesticated zebras, enabling them to wreak havoc outside Adaxakha fortresses using mounted raiders. With the advantage of zebras, the Tuaimans also managed to disrupt the advances of Adaxakha armies with swift ambushes and raid their military camps.

The conquest of their territories on the continent meant a massive setback for the Adaxakha, whose main cities, cultural centers, and religious sites were on the peninsula and were destroyed by the Tuaimans. The three centuries following the Tuaiman conquest constitute a dark age, primarily due to the abandonment of the Adaxakha writing system and the non-literate nature of the Tuaimans. However, it is certain that the latter did not manage to establish themselves on the islands, where Adaxakha fortresses were better protected, in addition to possessing a marked naval superiority.

During this period of turmoil, the cohesion among the western Adaxakha and those settled in the eastern archipelago, now encompassed by the state of Adaxa Txakra, was largely lost. This was particularly due to the decline in trade and a regression to a more primitive production scheme. In Txakra, we find the remains of large cities dating from that time, suggesting a brief resurgence of the Adaxakha civilization's splendor. There was a recovery of stone constructions and the establishment of mountain sanctuaries. However, these cities were struck by a natural disaster shortly after their construction and fell into decline. Until the 10th century B.C., Ancient Txakhaxi remained mostly disorganized, with the Tuaimans containing raids from northern peoples on the continent, and Adaxakha peoples fighting among themselves for control of the islands.

Only by this time did rudimentary legal states begin to be established, although no written laws have been discovered. This information is gleaned from ceramic art records that seem to indicate penalties for various crimes. These societies, likely very unstable and small, reverted to a slave production scheme, and the old balance of their primitive cities was long gone.

by **Sarzonia** » Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:35 pm

Caleb Rush walked into the training facility for the Sarzonian national football team with a mission.

His mission? To strengthen the depth of Sarzonian football beyond the first choice national team. Not only that, but he was given an opportunity to audition for the No. 1 job with Brady Reynolds leaving as manager. He didn't receive an edict, but he decided that Sarzonia had gotten away from its footballing identity in its return from the hinterlands.

"We've been a Sarzonian team that doesn't play Sarzonian football for much too long," Rush said I'm his opening press conference. "The last time we made the proper, we did it playing Sarzonian football. We need to get back to doing that."

So what exactly is Sarzonian football? As was explained in the long-ago past, the early days of the country itself, it's been described as "total football on steroids." As Rush explained to assembled media covering the inaugural Arrosia Regional Championship, it means every player getting involved with offence or defence.

"We're not doing away with positions," midfielder Harley Masterson said in response to a query from a reporter. "It means that a striker could potentially race back and play defence or a sweeper might be called upon to join the attack."

That style was what Sarzonia used during its heyday, a period that saw Sarzonia concede one goal during World Cup 22 qualifying en route to their lone World Cup trophy. The Dave Wilson-managed Stars of that era only conceded four goals in 17 matches, covering a total of 1,560 minutes of match time. Sarzonia goalkeeper Horace Sandt finished with a staggering 0.23 goals against average.

Does Rush believe he can help Sarzonia recapture those glory days?

"It's too early to tell," he said. "Some voices would argue this brand of football is archaic." He paused for a moment. "We're going to find out real quick."

by **The Island of Life** » Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:38 pm

ARC I SQUAD - THE ISLAND OF LIFE

BASIC INFORMATION
Nation: The Nomadic Peoples of the Island of Life
Trigramme: IOL
Colours: Black, White, Grey
Formation: 3-4-3
Style: +5
Manager: General 2077 - A highly-regarded naval pilot whose plane unfortunately had maintenance issues that would strike at worst timing possible - in middle of a high-profile mission.

The Island of Life are a group of rocky, desolate isles located in the middle of Blood Sea, the dark, tempestuous body of water that separate Arrosia and Rushmore.

Year-round population of 57, with the seasonal population going up to several-hundred's. Weather there is usually nice and all that with a fair bit of clouds and light showers. Where in the Blood Sea and how close to other Arrosian nations may be up to dear reader. Unfortunately, it is off-access to most people, which most likely includes you.

For those not wanting to recognise the footballers as in-canon selves, feel free to have them as competent local footballers with a day job from Nagligusuŋniq.


Pos. Year  Nickname   Note of Status
GK   2094  Coronation Child born on the year of next Quebecois coronation (2094), precisely 50 years after the most recent coronation
CB   2083  Crossfire  A low-rank soldier killed in conflict during a bloody but ultimately failed (this is a good) military coup
LI   2069  Mousehole  A boy who once entered a small room in the basement of a country estate he is told not to by his mate 
CB   2064  Archivist  A 178-year old archivist stuck in the deep reaches of an ancient archive, finally brought out of his misery for what would be his last run at the free world
LB   2088  Pilgrim    Rumours are that he is a ex-footballer with many international caps, who would go onto a three-year travel to [insert a rare, isolated religious site] that would take three decades for him to come back. By the time he reaches home his home is occupied by unspecified beings
VO   2102  Aerostar   A famous motorsports racer in reclusive state in his rural cottage far away from civilisation. Has a solar-powered plane that is rumoured to be able to fly forever if wanted/needed
VO   2114  Youngblood A young footballer from the future who was offered a time-travelling locket in exchange of servitude
RB   ????  Who?       Translucent shapeshifter. For the sake of this ARC, let's construct-a-backstory for this fella.
LW   2063  Boatsman   A fisherman whose ship was caught in the middle of 'Frozen Month' in the winter of 2063, costing his life in middle of a regional move
CF   2075  Avalanche  A cross-country skiier who disappeared into middle of wilderness
RW   2142  Narnian    An ordinary child who got trapped in a wardrobe owned by his great-uncle. Makes out of it fine after spending 5 decades there in reverse-chronological order, but with a heavy price - lion fur and claws on one end, devil's tail on the other

RP Permissions Box

If my opponent RPs our match first, I give them permission to:
Godmod scoring events: Y/N
RP Injuries to my players: Y/N
Godmod injuries to my players: Y/N
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Y/N
Hand out red cards to my players: Y/N
Godmod other events: Y/N (TG me in advance)
I prefer you pick these goalscorers for my side: Yes

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Football Association of the Commonwealth

Major Honors

Winners
5th Under 18 World Championship
9th Under 18 World Championship
62nd AOCAF Cup
66th AOCAF Cup
Cup of Champions (Eagles Cup 13)
DiBradini Cup 53/74th Under 21 World Championship
Runner-up
67th Baptism of Fire
Eagles Cup 13
Women's World Cup 17/Jenna Raven Cup 4
20th Under 18 World Championship
Third Place
58th AOCAF Cup
60th AOCAF Cup
Eagles Cup 14
19th Under-18 World Championship
Fourth Place
World Cup 85
63rd AOCAF Cup
Women's World Cup 15/Jenna Raven Cup 2

Established in 1901, the FAC is the governing body of the sport in Baker Park, maintaining a registry of over 24,000 players between the ages of 11 and 80; 3,500 officials; 128 full member clubs and 350 associate member clubs; sponsoring 12 National Championships for men & women across all levels. in addition to 6 domestic cup competitions; and offering training programs for coaches and physiotherapists covering youth to professional certification.

All time match record—585 wins, 310 losses, 187 draws (1082 matches)
NS Record—406 wins, 148 losses, 118 draws (672 matches)
(current through WC 95)

KPB Ranking--19.35 (41st)
style--+
Formation--3-4-1-2

In the “BP System” or the “BP Way” (neither of those should be considered as something used officially or unofficially—if you wanted to term it as such as something of your own IC creation, go for it) the 3-4-1-2 is more literal than the manner in which it's used RL.
A discussion I had with another user made me contemplate providing a bit more concrete info on just who plays where when you see my lineups/bench for individual matches.
Defense: the three backs play tight to one another when the ball is in the middle or defensive thirds—they should really be termed LCB/CCB/RCB. The outside pair will never be wider than diameter of the center circle. They both man-mark (unless there is an IC tactical reason they don't) and the centerback zonal marks (usually helping one of the other two). The CB is technically a fullback as they have more freedom to move forward with the ball at feet. In a pinch, an emergency situation as a sub, they could all play any of the three positions.
Midfield: there is a good deal of set responsibility among the four across midfield, but the one thing that is always a constant is the wings are the workhorses, they cover more distance than the other players. I've hinted at or flat out said in match reports in the past that left wing (and they are 99.9% of time always left footed) is THE talismanic position in The System, as right fullback is considered (in BP) as usually the weakest position in a flat back four.
The two central midfielders usually have a specific role, one as the playmaker, the distributor and the other as the defensive, hard tackler, disruptor, ball winner.
The preferred position is listed first, but the ones that follow show how versatile that player is. For CM's the left/right designation is the stronger side for that player, but in theory almost anyone in midfield can play in the center of midfield.
Forward: Ah yes, the wild card element. In this case, the differentiation should be looked at from the perspective of another sport—basketball.
The three positions are almost adapted from the indoor game: the center forward, the target man, the number 9—the one who plays up front but facing away from the goal. Mostly it's men who hold down this role in the NT, although not always.
The striker—they want to be played into an area by a pass, or want room to get a touch before shooting. They face goal, but usually in or very close to the box.
The 'slot'--what a lot of people call the attacking midfielder or the CAM. This is a player that can dribble and create their own shot, or draw defenders and find others. There's a reason why this position can be played by a midfielder or a forward and the rationale usually depends on a chemistry between a pair or trio, but more recently this has reverted back to a forward spot.
In conclusion—BP should always be RP'd (of course at your discretion, and I will always adapt to anyone who RP's first if something that's not necessarily canon is mentioned) as--

*fast, short passing
*high lines & pressing
*offside trap
*technically sound
*not easily intimidated
*willing to play anyone, anywhere

National Anthem--"Hear Our Voices Commonwealth"

Nickname--since the end of the 1960's the National Team has been known as "The Bees", a period when the team's uniforms consisted of alternating black and gold hoops.
Previous to that time and subsequently through periods in the 1980's and 90's, the team was usually referred to by the county's national animal, the Elks; the women's National Team were always 'Lady Elks' until the advent of mixed gender play, which was revived during the Jenna Raven Cup and there are still numerous mentions of Elks in the supporters song “We are the Gold & Black”, which currently has close to 175 stanzas.

Colors--Black & Gold (while they are just 2 of the 5 main colors on the flag of Baker Park--Blue, Red and White are the others--black & gold have been closely associated in the nation's consciousness as representative of the country since its founding.)

Manager—Will Barnard
Assistant—Darren Haller
Coaches—Max Littlejohn, Steven Tseng, Rich Gabriel

GK								caps		SHO
Ian Dickerson		25	Southend AC			13		1
Geoff Cotterill		25	Learfield FC			10		4		  
Mitch Longstreet	22	University of S. Baker Park      0
Rod Callaway		30	Shirley Metros FC		55 (5)		16

DEF								caps		goals
Jon Schulman		28	Fairport City FC		34 (3)
Michael O'Connor	25	Dalaris City FC (PFA)		28 (3)
Samuel Obodime	        26	New Bremen FC		        20 (7)
Joe Finnegan		25	Asbury Park FC		        33 (1)
Carlton Frost		25	Shirley Metros FC		21 (2)		1
Lance Calvert		24	Fairport City FC		 4 (2)
Marty Cooke		23	Monmouth Park FC		 3
Eric Lohmeyer		24	Nor-Dale AFC			 3 (2)
Marcus Taylor		24	Clayton City  FC		 4 (2)
Antoine Jones		25	Learfield FC			20 (1)		1

MID
Park Jae-Sung		26	Leaside Lions (QUE)		48 (10)	        9
Alonzo Boyle		27	Mancodas Athletic (PFA)	        46 (12)	       10
Paul Vetter		27	Linden Woods FC		        53 (13)	        6
Luke Olivera		28	Korsbach (GRF)		        51 (13)	        8
Rob D'Alessandro	24	Meadowdale FC		        25 (16)	        6
Shonte Logan		25	Crusaders FC			32 (7)		3
Edward Ogwumike	        25	Hillsborough FC		        15 (7)		5
Anthony Romero	        25	North Royalton Town FC	        11 (1)		2
Carlton Morgan	        25	Victoria & Albert SC		15 (5)		4
Travis Howard		25	Jamestown City FC		 6 (2)		
Jimmy Fourier		25	Asbury Park FC		         5 (1)		2	

FWD
Ben Moorman		28	Carsby FC (EUR)		        42 (20)	       19
David Coleman	        24	St Warren City FC		29 (10)	       12		
Peter Obulundi	        26	Newmarket Saxons FC	        24 (18)	        6	
James Hardison	        24	Clayton City FC		        21 (8)		7
Chris Sonjini		23	Midtown AC			 4 (2)		1
Terrell London		24	Hillsborough FC		        11 (4)		6
Shaheen Cohen-Abdullah  25	North Lima SC			 3 (2)		1

Permissions
_________________________________________________________________________________

In the event my opponent RPs first, they may...
Choose my goalscorers: YES
Godmod scoring events: YES
RP injuries to my players: YES, but those that would be for just the duration of the match (TG in advance would be appreciated as well)
Godmod injuries to my players: See Above
Hand out yellow cards to my players: YES
Hand out red cards to my players: YES, but again, a heads up in advance is appreciated, as I would do for you.
Godmod other events: TG what you have in mind, I'm easy to come to an understanding with

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© Sporting Times Daily 2024
BP, Arrosia ready to start new era
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Editor

The Commonwealth of Baker Park National Team will embark on a journey into the unknown along with the other 31 entrants in the first Arrosia Regional Championship, being held in Farfadillis.

While it feels much the same as the AOCAF Cup, there is a definite vibe that tells the observer that this is a different set of circumstances all around, starting with the host nation itself.
It would be a bit of a stretch to say that the nation is actually reasonably calm at present but it certainly doesn't require a private security detail along with well connected locals to assure safe passage these days.

Will Barnard will bring an all-male roster as the women compete in the JRC/Women's World Cup, a point not lost on the manager.
“The last time we played here in a regional was AOCAF 60, the first tourney after Pam (Scott) left. I was Jen's (Prescott) number two for that squad, while Mr T (Ichi Tuzzio) took the men to Qasden for the Wonder Cup. It was a massive achievement for us to make the semis because that carried over into the rest of the buildup towards World Cup 85 (in which Baker Park finished 4th, still their highest finish)”
Asked by one media pundit* if there would be another “Battle of Puerto Farolero” in this regional, Barnard smiled before answering.
“I hope not. (laughter) I don't even think any of the players we have in the squad know what it's like to get a proper post-training kicking. (laughter)”

Barnard has a definite plan that he wants to accomplish aside from claiming the inaugural title, as the NT has taken the opportunity to deconstruct the mixed gender player pool in search of areas of emphasis that require reconsideration or reconstruction in the wake of the WC 95 breakdown.

Rod Callaway, the Commonwealth's top keeper, was originally not included in the squad but lobbied Barnard for a spot, which required the addition of midfielder Alonzo Boyle to balance out the numbers.
Baker Park will face Demot for the fourth time in regional play as the sides battle in the opening group stage match for the third time; the Bees made their Atlantian Oceania debut at The Observatory in Ponyville Equestria with a 2-1 win; they also met in the opener at La Gran Avenida in AOCAF 60, a 1-0 Commonwealth victory; and the sides played to a 3-3 draw in the middle of the group stage in Tropicorp.

*The questioner was Pamela Scott herself, here to provide studio commentary for CBC Soccer Night and happy to sit down for a few questions.

MC: "You look so...energized. So fully healthy, compared to how you looked at the end of the World Cup."
PS: "As a coach you want to push your team to be the very best they can and when you get to that pinnacle you want to continue on, see how far you can carry the spirit, the energy. But Mindy, I hadn't taken a proper vacation since the end of WC 92. After the end of that last match, my husband Brian asked the RBSA if they could book us back into the team hotel and we'd fly back home the next day. I don't remember the last time I cried after a loss since I've been a coach...it would have to have been back to college, losing as a senior in the (UAC tournament) playoff.”
MC: "Wow, in a way that's not surprising because you've been so successful but also reflects on how you have coped with losing as a manager."
PS: "You shed tears for your players, especially at the end of their careers or when they've come so close to the prize. But I was just exhausted because the people—the supporters, the nation—are so devoted to the Kadongo Kamu and they've seen their National Team rise from being at the very bottom—winless in their very first qualifying attempt, then Marcus Waters leading them to the title then a step back and again to the heights of three consecutive World Cup Finals Championship appearances. You feel the responsibility personally.”
She switches into a character--'Pamscott! You are really the Greatest Manager Ever, your Ady Donlan (sic) says so! You can do this!'
“I have always been 'Pamscott', no one ever calls me just Pam, or Ms Scott or anything else. (laughs)”
MC: "And you're doing this while all of these big happenings away from sport are going on..."
PS: "exactly. The Kingdom is dealing with all of these crises and you know that the only real source of national pride is on TV or in the stadium. So, yes I feel transformed having been able to turn my back on the sport, going back to enjoying my life with my family, sleeping in, doing nothing. We sold our house in Busukuma but downsized to a condo before coming back to Baker Park."
MC: "We need to continue this conversation as the tourney goes along."
PS: "There is so much I feel like I need to do while I'm back here, there's so much beautiful country that I never had a chance to enjoy. Maybe we can do a road trip!"
MC: "It's a deal!"

by **Gyatso-kai** » Thu Jan 18, 2024 11:46 am

Gyatso-kai National Football Team
‘The Bisons’

┤ GENERAL INFORMATION ├

Official Name: Gyatso-kai Men’s National Football Team / 凯海洋国家足球队 (Kaihaiyáng Guójia Zúqiú Duì) / Gyats'kai Tsad droten Taab’rugam
Official Nation Name: The Avatarian Republics of Gyatso-kai / 凯海洋降世神通共和国 (Kaihaiyáng Jiàngshì Shéntong Gònghéguó) / Tsad Gyats'kai Jettise
Country Code: GKI
Officiating League: The Republic Premier Football League (RPFL)
Founded: 1876 (228 AKy)
Regional Officiating Body: The Arrosia Regional Confederation of Football Federations (ARCFF)
Year of Membership: 2023.1 (78 AAg)
Records: (Pre-WC XC
ARC: 0 – 0 – 0 (WDL)
World Cup: 191-78-121
All-Time: 210-86-148
Under Wong Haru: 52-22-47
Titles: 0
Rank:
ARC: **Unranked**
World Cup: 89th (WC XCIII)
Nickname: Bisons
Style: +3.5 out of 5.0

┤ THE ROSTER ├

Left Defenders:
16- TERCAR Shuajo
[i]Height: 180cm - Weight: 84kg – Age: 31 years old - Team: Mando FC

Tercar Shuajo, who signed a four-year contract with Mando FC after graduating from Northern University, has added 8kg to his frame in muscle, yet still retains his speed. A very quick and agile defender, Tercar uses his feet and agility to outmaneuver most other players instead of relying on sheer mass to take away a ball, a tactic he learned from pairing with Itawaku during exhibition games prior to World Cup 86.

Now into his fourth campaign as starting defender, Tercar is looking to further cement himself into the team. With both Hashimoto Isamiru and Somchai Kikwan both growing older with every passing game, soon it may be time for Tercar to take his speed and agility to the centre of the pitch. Tercar bares the distinction of being one of only two players to score a goal during the last AOCAF – the lone goal against Vilita & Turori on the opening day of the tournament.

Unfortunately for Tercar, an upper body strain took him out of World Cup XC for four games, as well as the four games of AOCAF 66. He did not play in World Cup XCI and XCII, and given the average performance of the defence during XCIII, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Haru call him up at AOCAF.
Rating: B- - Team Relationship: B - Morale: B - Form: C
CAPS: 109 :: GOALS: :: 26 TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 63-66, WC 86-90, 93, CoH 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

12- PAM Kai
Height: 183cm - Weight: 86kg – Age: 29 years old - Team: Senlin Timbers

Formerly the backup to the Beast of the North, Pam Kai spent five tournaments in the shadow of Itawaku, hoping to one day earn the starting spot from him or to replace him. However, at the tryout camp, it was Tercar Shuajo who shined, and received the Starting Spike from Tay’haai. Following another lackluster season in Senlin, Pam has shown himself to be a perennial backup defender; though this time, he has been kicked out of the limelight by a former classmate and teammate of his from Northern University… One has to wonder how that will play out during the tournament.

Rating: B+ - Team Relationship: B - Morale: B - Form: A
CAPS: 123 :: GOALS: 32 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59, 61-68,WC 84-93, CoH 79, 82

26 – Khánh KA’LOMI
Height: 190cm - Weight: 94kg – Age: 27 years old - Team: Island FC

A young Southern Watertribesman who signed a professional contract with Island FC at just 20-years-of-age, Khánh Ka’lomi is already making waves in the Avatarian sports community. With an impressive size for such a young player, many see him as the next Itawaku, and some have already started calling him “The Beast of the South”. In his first season at Island FC, Ka’lomi put up impressive numbers for a defencemen; ending his season with the highest involvement in goals by a defender with 2 goal and 7 assists to go with 6 clean sheets.

In World Cup XC, an upper body strain for Tercar Shuajo would see Ka’lomi moved into the Starting XI, and given the performance of Tercar following that strain – as well as him sitting out the last two tournaments – it seems likely that Wong has decided to trust the youthful Watertribesman to fill in and to succeed Pam Kai on the left side.

Not sure how Pam is going to take this one…

Rating: B- - Team Relationship: B - Morale: B - Form: C
CAPS: 101 :: GOALS: 19 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 62-67, WC 87-93, CoH 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

Central Defenders
5- HASHIMOTO Isamiru
Height: 178cm - Weight: 75kg – Age: 40 years old - Team: Ba Sing Se UNITED

One of the most highly-rated player for the Bison defence, Hashimoto Isamiru, or “Hashi” as he is loving called by fans, has shown himself to be a very valuable asset to the team. A strong defensive player who often falls in to a full-back position, Hashimoto has made great strides in improving his passing and marking skills since he was traded to Ba Sing Se UNITED from Keldabe FC after a very disappointing season which saw Kelabe not advance to the playoffs for the first time in five years.

However, as time as worn on, so too as age on Hashimoto. Having turned 40 just before AOCAF 69, many have been calling for Hashi to step down gracefully and retire for several campaigns. However, in multiple interviews through consecutive campaigns, Hashimoto has given no sign of slowing down or even stepping down.

Five goals in the last World Cup proves he still has it.

Rating: A – Team Relationship: A – Morale: A – Form: A
CAPS: 227 :: GOALS: 65 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59-67,WC 84-87, 90-93, CoH 76, 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

15- UTHAN A’den
Height: 185cm - Weight: 83kg – Age: 28 years old - Team:FC Beijing

A large and physically imposing player, Uthan A’den does not play a very physical game like Auranaq or Hashimoto, but instead proves himself to be one of the fastest players on the team; one who uses that speed to outpace and overtake many of his opponents. Less prove to tackle and trip, and more likely to simply run up from behind and steal the ball mid-dribble, expect to see Uthan engaging opponents closer to the net than you will be comfortable with from previous Bisons campaigns.

Having reached his century mark during the 6-2 win at home against The Juniper Union during World Cup 88 – and also scoring his first multiverse hat trick – Uthan became one of the youngest players to reach the milemark, following in the footsteps of Akiyama Qiangyu and Bralor Kotyc’e to reach a century before 25.

And given his presence, Uthan is expected to play for a very long time.

Rating: A- - Team Relationship: B - Morale: A - Form: A
CAPS: 220 :: GOALS: 69 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59- 67,WC 84-93, CoH 76, 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

15- Ganham Ri’om
Height: 175cm - Weight: 70kg – Age: 29 years old - Team: Concord Dusk AFC

Though not as fast as Uthan, Ganham Ri’om is a full-back more focused on the offence, who uses his skill with the ball to often drive the offence from the backfield. Though Ganham can have some minor difficulties when tasked with defence (given that he played his entire career at Hatsu State as a offensive midfielder before switching to defence when drafted), he is a very dedicated player and works hard to improve where he knows there are weakness.
Rating: B+ - Team Relationship: B - Morale: A - Form: B
CAPS: 90 :: GOALS: 30 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59-60, 64-67,WC 84-93, CoH 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

Right Defenders:

3- SOMCHAI Kikwan
Height: 187cm - Weight: 83kg – Age: 37 years old - Team: Itakawai City

While certainly not the oldest player in the defence, Somchai Kikwan does serve as the counterpoint to Uthan’s youthful excitement. Having graduated from Kyoshi State, Somchai is very familiar to the style of play Uthan is used to, and the two of them communicate very well on the side of the field. Very adept at playing the middle of the field, when pushed to the right side, Somchai is quick to adapt and has the endurance and stamina to keep up with the demands.

Having made his multiverse debut in World Cup 85, Somchai has continued to play through a nagging lower body injury up until World Cup 90; utlising traditional medicine as well as playing an on-off schedule which allowed Huang Aodhan and Taoru Adeen to garnish some of the limelight, Somchai has made a full return to the line-up, and will likely break the century-and-a-half mark during this campaign.

Rating: A – Team Relationship: A – Morale: A – Form: A
CAPS: 168 :: GOALS: 53 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 63-67, WC 85-93, CoH 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

23- HUANG Aodhán
Height: 183cm - Weight: 84kg – Age: 31 years old - Team: Makapu ERUPT

With Mi’rez Yiman retiring, Huang Aodhán would find himself moving up on the list of right defenders. Signed onto a Taap-A team right out of college, Huang was quick to mature and found his way onto the Makapu ERUPT three season ago. A quick study, he adapted well to his new team and soon made it to their starting eleven. Huang is a natural athlete, with impressive speed and stamina to match, and we can expect to see that natural athleticism on display as the tournament wears on and fatigue sets into the Starting Eleven.
Rating: B – Team Relationship: B – Morale: B – Form: B
CAPS: :: 100 GOALS: 24 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 60-67, WC 84-93, CoH 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

15 – Tarou ADEEN
Height: 189cm - Weight: 90kg – Age: 29 years old - Team: Royal Flames

With the retirement of a couple of the Bisons’ core defenders, the Travelling Corps has produced another potential feature player in the form of Tarou Adeen. A product of both the Royal Fire Developmental Programs as well as serving under the tutelage of Fujimoto Zhong at Omashu State, Adeen is sure to see his number called in future tournaments, especially as players like Somchai continue to add years to their career. Though, unlike Somchai, Adeen brings more size to the right; standing at just under 190cm and weighs a little under 90kg. Combine that size with his speed and vision on the pitch, and you have a defender who can knock an opponent off course and redirect a ball to a forward without even lifting his head from his target. As with others in the lower levels of the team, expect to see Adeen as the tournament progresses.
Rating: B+ – Team Relationship: B – Morale: A – Form: B
CAPS: 30 :: GOALS: 7 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 65-66, 68 WC 88-91, 93, CoH 79, 82

Travelling With the Team

Position	Name		Age		School / Team			Nation                |
RD		KATO Zhao Ling	23		Enceri FC			Mandalorian	
RD		YAMADA Goro	22		Ba Sing Se UNITED 		Fire
CD		ZHOU Hiroto	22		Concord Dusk AFC		Earth

The Travelling Corps for Defense is all small trio of defenders who are all potential future Bisons.

Kato Zhao Ling, who graduated from Enceri University and signed an entry-level two-year contract with FC She Pass, is coming off his first RPFL All-Star selection and a third-place finish in the 2021.1 Season, having been traded to Enceri FC before the end of his contract and signing on an entry-level single-year bridge pending the conclusion of the 2021.3 Season. Yamato Goro surprised the football world upon graduation, having signed with Ba Sing Se over Itakawai; Yamato is certainly being watched to replace either of the aging defencemen in Hashimoto and Somchai. Zhou Hiroto, who helped Kibago University win their third consecutive Earthen Shield tournament in five years, also is vying for an eventual spot on the national roster after signing an entry-level two-year contract with Concord Dusk AFC.

Defensive Midfielders:

7- TAKAHASHI Hikaru
Height: 178cm - Weight: 76kg – Age: 42 years old - Team: Northern AFC

A strong defensive midfielder. Takahashi Hikaru’s strength lies in his kicks; easily able to send a ball soaring across the pitch with surprising accuracy, Takahashi is known for feeding the ball to the strikers and catching many opposing defences off-guard. He often has great vision, and he is easily able to read the play and can adapt accordingly.

Now, Takahashi has to step into a new role, as the oldest player on the team. With the retirement of so many of his fellow over-30 players, some feel the pressure is on Takahashi to produce more in this upcoming World Cup Campaign… or hang up the Number Seven jersey for the last time. Though, given his performance during World Cup XC and XCI, it is likely Takahashi will continue to play. After all, he is the first player in the Modern Era to achieve a double-century in caps; specifically as he took the pitch against Zeta Reka & Hufeltaldom, and scoring the only goal of the match for the Bisons.

Rating: S – Team Relationship: S – Morale: A – Form: A
CAPS: 230 :: GOALS: 88 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59-66,WC 84-91, 93, CoH 75, 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

6- MA Haijiang
Height: 187cm - Weight: 85kg – Age: 37 years old - Team: Northern AFC

Former Head Coach Tay’haai made the unusual selection of having both of his defensive midfielders come from the same team, for reasons most can ascertain…. And it’s a decision that Head Coach Wong Haru continued with. A proven veteran on the pitch, Ma Haijiang complements Takahashi’s strong kicks and accuracy with the speed to overcome most opponents; if he can not strike a ball deep, Takahashi will often send a volley up to Ma who will then run it into the offensive zone before lasering the ball to an open forward. Expect to see either Ma or Takahashi in the assist column for plenty of goals.

Though, now with both players into their 30s, and many calling for younger blood to take the reigns, one has to wonder how much longer the ‘Northern Duo’ will continue to play together… or worse, who will be the first to retire… Yet, earning his double-century just five games after Takahashi’s – a 2-nil game against Bears Armed – seems to have energized the older midfielder. And with a stomach bug taking Takahashi out of three games, Ma has pulled ahead in the all-time lead for caps.
Rating: A- – Team Relationship: A – Morale: B – Form: A
CAPS: 233 :: GOALS: 61 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59-68,WC 84-90, 92-93, CoH 76, 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

17- YOSHIDA Arata
Height: 177cm - Weight: 80kg – Age: 33 years old - Team: Royal Flames

Yoshida Arata is a dedicated player who has worked incredibly hard to make his way to the national team; having spent several months training with one of the greatest Avatarian midfielders to ever play the game, Bralor Kotyc’e. Time spent with Bralor has proven to greatly improve his game, seeing Yoshida climb up the ranks during the Trials for the national team. Though he has predominantly been a backup for his entire career thirteen tournaments, Arata has managed to amass ninety-two caps, and given the length of the Cup of Harmony, expected to reach the century during it. The only question will be whether he reaches that mark as a substitution or as a starter.

Though, Yoshida is not a player you will often notice. He is not one for showboating, and very rarely makes a goal or garnishes an assist. Instead, he focuses his time on the pitch by setting up the offense for a great pass, a decisive tackle that often swings the game’s momentum, or just being able to intercept the ball at the most opportune time. One of the best midfielders in the Southern Conference of the RPFL, Yoshida is sure to see time on the pitch by relieving Takahashi or Ma in the later games of the competition.

Rating: B+ – Team Relationship: A – Morale: B – Form: B
CAPS: 141 :: GOALS: 30 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59, 60, 62-68,WC 84-93, CoH 82, Eagles Cup XI

Neutral Midfielders:

18- HISAKAWA Si Woo
Height: 183cm - Weight: 84kg – Age: 35 years old - Team: Senlin Timbers

An extremely technical midfielder, Hisakawa Si Woo is not one to shy away from trying for goals. More adept at reading the play and setting up his forwards, Hisakawa is a bit more impatient than one would like, and he posseses the speed and agility to run through a good defence and find the back of the net on occasion. He is also the only player on the Bisons who is currently unsigned; his contract with the Taap-A team Omashu Athletic ended after AOCAF LX, and with nothing really to showcase his worth, Omashu Athletic chose to not sign Hisakawa; a fact that has certainly hurt his morale going into the last World Cup. However, an impressive showing, including four goals at WC 85, saw Hisakawa sign a two-year contract with the Senlin Timbers just days after the completion of the group stage.

Rating: B+ – Team Relationship: B – Morale: B – Form: A
CAPS: 190 :: GOALS: 58 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59-68,WC 84, 86-92, CoH 76,79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

Attacking Midfielders:

8- YU Shichiro
Height: 183cm - Weight: 85kg – Age: 32 years old - Team: Keldabe FC

With a very offensive-minded footballing style, Yu Shichiro works as the last link between the midfield and the offence. Much like Hisakawa, Yu has been known to even advance from the midfield to score quite a few key goals in pivotal games, including the 2019.2 Ve’vut Cup winning goal against Concord Dusk AFC. He has a powerful long shot and is exceptional at heading, both of which are aided by his height. However, as skilled as he is in offense, Yu still prefers to pass the ball up to forwards for an assist in a goal as opposed to being the star player.

Rating: A- – Team Relationship: A – Morale: B – Form: A
CAPS: 191 :: GOALS: 44 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59-68,WC 84-92, CoH 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

11- GUANYU Jun
Height: 185cm - Weight: 81kg – Age: 28 years old - Team: Omashu Athletic (Taap-A)
A very creative midfielder, Guanyu Jun is very capable of making plays on the fly; with great vision and quick feet, he often can set up his forwards for a great goal or keep the ball moving through the middle. Though having graduated from Heibai University right after AOCAF 59, Guanyu was making his way into the Starting Eleven before being displaced by Yu Shichiro in WC 62. However, tenancity as always been one of Guanyu’s strength, and thanks to the offensively-minded playstyle employed by Head Coach Wong, Guanyu has easily solidified himself into the Starting Eleven; often pushing out of the midfield and into an extra attacker at times.

Rating: B+ – Team Relationship: B – Morale: B – Form: A
CAPS: 134 :: GOALS: 30 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 59, 60,62-68,WC 84-85,87-92, CoH 79, 82, Eagles Cup XI

14 – Fei’kao SONG
Height: 185cm - Weight: 81kg – Age: 27 years old - Team: FC Mando

Relatively young when compared to his teammates, Fei’kao Song chose to forgo his collegiate career, getting drafted by FC Mando the day before his twentieth birthday. Despite all the fanfare of his first season behind him, Song has not had a promising start to his sophomore season. Given his still-developing skills in midfield, his is seen as a comparatively weak player and often spends more time with the coaching staff than other more-seasoned players. Song, much like Hisakawa, is a technical player by nature whose greatest asset is not in his aim or power, but in the art of dribbling which he uses at every opportunity. While more prone to provide assists on plays as opposed to goals, Song has proven himself through Trials to Tay’haai and earned a spot on the National Team, albeit a reserve position.

Rating: B- – Team Relationship: A – Morale: B – Form: C
CAPS: 52 :: GOALS: 12 :: TOURN. PLAYED: AOCAF 60, 63-66, 68, WC 87-93 CoH 76, 79, 82

Travelling With the Team

Position	Name			Age		School/Team					Nation
DM		INOUE Anernerk	25		R.C UNITED				Water
DM		Kal ITOWA		25		FC Beijing				Water
NM		Penlu SAITO		22		Omashu				Fire
OM		SHAO Mi’ka		24		Solus FC				Water
OM		DIK Up’lis		23		Northern AFC				Earth

Mostly comprised of Water Tribesmen, the Midfield Travelling Corps is a grabbag of talent. From the University of the Northern Tribes come home-grown Inoue Anernerk, who at just like his father, the famed Inoue Kuruk, completed back-to-back double-digit scoring seasons in his last two seasons of college; impressive for a man who is supposed to be on the defensive midfield. From UST, Kal Itowa mirrors the success of Inoue, though a career less filled with goals and more with assists. Penlu Saito, a young player from the developmental Chomain State Academy, hopes to see a professional contract within the year, and with such a great season in the ADFL, you can be sure he will at least entertain some good offers. Out of the University of Kibago, Shao Mi’ka is a relatively quiet player who has had offers from both Gaoling Union and Senlin Timbers. Dik Up’lis rounds out the Travelling Corps, bringing from Omashu State a drive for excellence many teams would love to have, even if it comes with a bit more maturing to be fostered.

┤ PLAYER OPTIONS ├

┤ COACHING STAFF ├

┤ THE KITS ├

The Bisons will continue to wear the uniforms they debuted in the 2021.1 Campaign at the Eighty-Seventh World Cup. After moving from the Atlantian Oceania region to the newly-formed Arrosia, the Third Regional Kit has been retired, with a new Arrosia-themed kit soon to be debuted.

Just have to hope the Bisons make it far enough…

┤ GROUP STAGE SCHEDULE ├

┤ PRIMARY FORMATION ├

┤ ROLEPLAY PERMISSIONS ├

by **Mriin** » Thu Jan 18, 2024 11:58 am

Context RP

andü

Ruuzin Zhuang trudged up to his studio apartment with a bit more lethargy than normal. An absolutely massive audit had come down the pipe at his firm, and while he knew he’d been accounting by the books it was still a mind-numbing and exhaustive process to dredge up every single piece of due diligence from the last few years, submitting it with full context on the proper forms to the proper data receptacles, and hounding everyone in his area to do the same or they’d all be in hot water.

That mental fry left him frequently zoning out off the clock, including realizing that he’d been staring at his shoes outside the door for… who knows how long.

“...the fuck is this?”

An envelope had been slid partially underneath his door. This is bizarre, as the mailboxes were in the lobby. The mailman would never step more than a few metres into the building. Did someone… hand-deliver this? Why was this not an e-mail? Who would even have reason to contact him like this?

…who knew he lived here? There’s no way this was coming from work, his friends only ever meet up at bars and stadia, and none of his dating app escapades ever made it back here…

“Everything okay?”

The voice from outside his head snapped him back to reality. He looked up and saw a neighbor at their door a few feet down.

“Oh, yeah, sorry. Been a long day; I’ll be fine after dinner.”

“Fair enough. Had me worried because I walked all the way down the hall and you hadn’t moved a muscle.”

Ruuzin let out a nervous chuckle. “Guess I was hungrier than I thought! Well, you have a good night.” He finally pulled out his keys and swiftly opened the door, stooping down to swipe up the letter as he crossed inside.

“You too, bud. Take care of yourself.”

The plate of carefully-reheated fish and chips had been clean for some time now, but the letter still remained unopened at the edge of the coffee table. Ruuzin’s eyes were glued to the qualifiers match playing out on his television. He’d figured Nephara drubbing some also-rans would be a good way to wind down, but here were Estorvipa and Estorpiva having somehow found four goals on the visiting Cormorants. The latter had answered in kind, but this was a bad time to be dropping points to the team in literal last.

With time running low, the visitors got one more chance… as Tabithe Drake blasted it into the post. Soon came the final whistle, and Ruuzin collapsed back into the couch. It’d been ages since he’d been enraptured in a match like that. It wasn’t a… good game, no, but the scrappiness of it held something special. The Estorians have been a known quantity for some time and this team was not of a particularly impressive vintage even by those standards, as their abysmal record proved. But in front of the home crowd, with expectations as low as possible, they could still make something happen. A team most of the footballing world had forgotten about and left behind as though they weren’t even there…

Ruuzin finally caught himself ruminating as the post game analysis talking heads went in circles about how much of a shock this result was. Clicking the TV shut, he sighed and glanced at the envelope. Nothing left to do but see what this was about.

Mr. Zhuang,

We at the Council for Reimagining International Marquee Events would like to offer you an opportunity to join our prospective Mrii National Football Team. We believe the appetite for football in our nation is too high to have been starved for over a decade, and that the wasted potential of great footballers bereft of work because of the lack of local organization is a tragedy. Years of tireless toil have gone into laying the groundwork for this project and we’re finally ready to begin assembling a roster to enter into the next regional competition.

Naturally, a former prospect of your caliber was one of the first names we thought to invite. You need not worry if your physique has slipped in the years since your most active days; we have secured state of the art training facilities and highly qualified staff to aid in getting everyone back up to speed. More than anything we value your tactical mind, and hope that your veteran presence and command of the midfield will tie together a relatively inexperienced team.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Regards,
Baalfazar Mirai

Ruuzin sank back into the couch and stared at the ceiling for… an amount of time.

Was this real? If it was, could he pull it off? Did he even want to at this point?

Training for a tournament… there’s no way he could do that and keep working his current job. Management wouldn’t approve this as a reason for taking a formal leave of absence. There’s no way a flimsy shot at the lights was worth forsaking the stable (if slow, and stressful, and not terribly interesting) career he’d finally managed to build, right?

But the thought stuck with him throughout the night. Some research indicated the Council mentioned is a real organization doing real work. There were rumbles on various social media sites and niche forums about a resurgence of the Mrii footballing scene. This was seeming more and more real. He might actually have a chance to play…

…at a CAFA.

by **Mriin** » Thu Jan 18, 2024 3:05 pm

Smoky back rooms in Maal’s business districts are a dime a dozen. The deals brokered behind those closed doors grease the wheels of commerce near and far, dictate what sensations will take hold of culture in a few years time, and direct the flow of public attention on issues of state. But not every deal cut is equal, and especially the last type is often a risky proposition. The whims of a direct democracy are hard to read at the best of times and the most carefully constructed ad campaigns can go very, very awry. The vast majority of puppeteers that had their strings tracked back and snipped were attempting a form of political maneuvering, trying to drum up support for a “cause” that would benefit them greatly if only they could get it onto the voting app where millions would see it.

That’s why one Baalfazar Mirai decided he was simply going to skip that step entirely. Far too messy, too far from a guaranteed result, and the unacceptable risk of being found out before the changes could go into effect. No, no… this was a matter too important to ever pass through the people’s hands. They’d been the ones to make the wrong choice in the first place, after all. Forcing him to spend years, countless late hours, significant chunks of his personal wealth, and nearly all of the favors he’d banked throughout his career in service of finding a way to break the core of Mriin’s governance. Moves made under the guise of the Council for Reimagining International Marquee Events, the name adorning the building he sat in. But the people sharing his company preferred a different title: the Mrii Alliance Lamenting Anaian Decision Yearly.

No laws would be broken. No systems would be hacked into. In the end, all that would be needed is the carefully choreographed phone taps of thousands of collaborators and sympathizers, a handful of ancient and forgotten bylaws… and a hopelessly blackmailed member of parliament to set things into motion. Who knew there was a proviso allowing individual parliamentarians to call votes on “matters of national identity?” Who knew there was an allowance for drastically shortened voting windows in non-emergency situations if “a great opportunity presents itself in a short timeframe?” Words written in a bygone era of in-person voting but never revisited in the digital era. Until now.

A fact all Mrii citizens learn sooner or later is that there are no official operating hours of the parliament; while rare, emergency votes can be called in the wee hours of the night in expectation of a natural disaster or in the wake of regional hostilities breaking out. A blaring alarm will sound to alert all that their input is needed immediately… or at least, that’s the intent. The capability to conduct proper nationwide votes at night only came when the secure voting app was developed, which introduced said alarm. However, a law regarding the alarm was never actually put into place—and buried deep in the settings of a proposal, it can be turned off. Thus at 1am on a Tuesday, an exhausted clerk charged with doing the formal review on an odd proposal confirmed that all the statutes invoked were valid and gave the green light. With a few tweaks to the optional settings, the compromised parliamentarian pushed out a three-hour vote reading:

“Shall the nation of Mriin relocate to Arrosia?”

Thousands of votes poured in. If the alarm had been set, it would have been at minimum hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Night owls who happened to look at the voting app posted confused reactions on social media, lambasting the ridiculous vote for even being proposed and wagering on how badly it would fail. But Baalfazar’s machinations proved enough, the collective force of the Arrosian sympathizers and those offering votes to be quietly bought prevailing by over twenty points. When 4am rolled around and the results were confirmed, the grand finale to the plan sprung: the superlogistics company he’d kept on retainer the past few days—at tremendous expense—was freed from that contract, allowing them to be hired by “parliament” and commence their work immediately.

The move was done within the hour. The rapidly changing sky caused calls from panicked early-morning joggers to take over emergency lines, but even the lightest sleeper was not awoken thanks to advances in superlogistics technology providing an unparalleled smooth ride. It would take roughly two hours for enough people to piece together what happened… causing quite a ruckus in the parliamentary district of Maal, as people from all over the city poured in to demand answers on what the fuck was going on.

Oh, and that “great opportunity?” The one used to justify the miniscule three hours of voting time?

It was the final day to enter the Arrosian Regional Championship, of course.

Mrii National Team

For competition in the ~~8th CAFA~~ 1st ARC
Right: An artist's rendition of Solara Vol, Mrii legend (in her Sabrefell Moths duds).
Style: 4-5-1, 0
Nickname: the Raiders

Note that most players are satyrs, as pictured, though with a variety of skin tones—mostly in various shades of blue, purple, and red. They're on average very tall, along the lines of human professional basketball players, and specialize in aerial play thanks to the elevated header control courtesy of their horns. Their stature lends itself to a fast and aggressive attacking game: leveraging long strides, high stamina, and imposing presence to pressure and wear down the opposition.

POSITION - NUMBER - GENDER - AGE - NAME
Typical XI
GK -  1 - N - 35 - Korii Kiirin
LB -  2 - M - 21 - Revaari Kruuzek
CB -  3 - Y - 33 - Kserna Toraan
CB -  4 - M - 23 - Oboruura Ÿsar
RB -  5 - F - 21 - Piora Vol [human]
LM -  6 - M - 32 - Yvaan Sobaano
CM -  7 - N - 31 - Næmaru Vabaat
CM -  8 - M - 28 - Ruuzin Zhuang [human, dual-YUE]
RM -  9 - F - 22 - Äna Moriina
AM - 10 - F - 26 - Yvaari Breigan
ST - 11 - F - ?? - Tali’raia [note: is a dryad]


REPLACEMENTS
GK - 12 - M - 23 - Velen Mænar
LB - 13 - Y - 21 - Liara Bregen [human]
CB - 14 - N - 22 - Feraasi Ruutvyr
CB - 15 - M - 35 - Troi Jekiura
RB - 16 - F - 36 - Vaalta Draisor
LM - 17 - F - 34 - Araana Salein
CM - 18 - Y - 37 - Neina Kaivet
RM - 19 - F - 32 - Alaara Keor [human]
ST - 20 - N - 23 - Kietna Makon
ST - 21 - F - 32 - Kiana Tanke [human]

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes 
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes

ARC 1

ARC 1

ARC 1 Roster

Gyatso-kai National Team ROSTER - ARC I

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