UICA Champions Cup Preview
Jungle Strike Looking for UICA Title
Just one season removed from their Final Defeat in the 40th UICA Globe Cup, Jungle Strike FC will be looking to do one better in the UICA Champions Cup after having returned to the top of the Vilitan Stellar Division table after a 3 season stretch where the title went instead to the Island of Turoki.
While they won't have the opportunity to repeat the Turoki Tide's accomplishment of winning every domestic and international competition in the cycle, having lost the Vilitan Cup in a penalty shootout to Colonial Sile, Strike have made no secrets of their desire to make up for their Globe Cup defeat. Having added New Montreal States defender Henri-Rene Lavaillere for the title run, Strike have now added Farfadillis superstar Friekder Dandalleion ahead of the UICA Champions Cup.
Makos Return to Champions League
After dropping off the map with a pair of mid-table finishes after being crowned V-League champions for the first time during Season 31, Makosile United rebounded with a consistent and well played season, finishing "Best of the Rest" behind Strike FC in the Season 34 Stellar Division table.
After just one season in Sile, Vilitan midfielder Manolis Kontalroma decided to return to the Yeaddin Owls but the Makos signed JD Fuller and Vilitan National Team strike Sirkii Moliaudo to bolster the roster, supporting Vilitan League midfielder of the season Ichi Tuzzio in preparation for the UICA Champions Cup
Mliona-Lpaka return, proving Season 33 was No Fluke.
After pipping Cednia Beach AFC to a place in the 43rd UICA Champions Cup, the first ever qualification for Mliona-Lpaka Turori, many expected to see that status quo returned during V-League 34. If the mid-season table was any indication, it was sure to be, with Cednia Beach 10 points up on Mliona-Lpaka it seemed almost inconceivable that Cednia Beach would miss out on the 44th UICA Champions Cup.
But no team put more points on the board during the second half of the season than Mliona-Lpaka, going unbeaten over the final 13 games and accumulating 31 points to climb into the top 3 - the highest league finish in club history and once again securing their place in the UICA Champions Cup.
Not looking to get off to a slow start during the next V-League season, or, during the UICA Champions Cup, head coach Jonathon Bijl decided to look no further than other V-League clubs to pick and choose the best Turorian players to bolster his squad. Bijl signed Turori Eels National Team starters Vrotaoa Lorasoiba (Arcticala Inlet) and Rutaj Ranaso (Cednia Beach) while also enticing Jungle Strike FC trainee Lopaki Kilpter to leave Lonngeylin with the promise of a professional contract and regular playing time that the younger Lopinka would not be getting at Strike.
For the first time in their history, Mliona-Lpaka Turori will be headed to the Champions League, and they will do so with an almost-entirely Turorian roster. In fact, the Mliona-Lpaka squad is almost entirely local as well, with only Vilitan goalkeeper Jawz Tiiaupila having represented either of the two National Teams. Mliona-Lpaka had been threatening Cednia Beach for a few seasons but had faltered at the finish on every attempt. Now, led by long-time manager Jonathon Bijl, there is a new 'top team' in Turori - and they reside at the Mliona Stadium.
Tide Looking to Add Another Trophy
After finishing season 33 with a perfect layout of silverware, having won the Vilitan Stellar Division, Vilitan Cup, Tropical Trophy and UICA Globe Cup titles, the Turoki Tide were looking to take the Stellar Division for the third straight season.
Instead, a similar looking Tide side was run over by Jungle Strike FC in the Tropical Trophy and could never catch up, only sliding into the 4th and final UICA Champions Cup qualification spot on the final matchday of the Vilitan League season. The Tide will always be a threat but the rest of the Vilitan league has caught up to whatever magic the Tide were operating under during Seasons 32 and 33, and it is likely that teams from around the multiverse will have the same reaction.
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Past Seasons, Format and Background Information on the Vilitan League is available in the Vilitan League Thread
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