DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ABANHFLEFT
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL TEAM - WOMEN
These are tough times for Fleftic football. After having experienced the rise of a so-called "golden generation" of players at right around the same time that Abanhfleft finally joined the greater multiverse, everyone is seemingly losing their heads now that the Fleftic teams are just losing left and right. Rebuilding is the word that everyone knows is being thought but not said, but even that is encountering problems seeing as even Abanhfleft's youth teams are doing very poorly in their competitions. The danger of overperforming in the early years has seemingly finally caught up with the Democratic Republic, and now the Samahang Futbol ng Abanhfleft is having to do everything in its power to reverse a troubling trend and finally get this sports-obsessed nation back on the right track. They tried to do that in the Independents Cup but that didn't pan out as good as they would have wanted. And now it's time for the World Cup itself. It couldn't have come at a worse possible time...
BASIC INFORMATION
Name of nation: Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft
Demonym: Fleftic
Team colors: Blue, orange, and green
Style modifier: +2.75 (a slightly less attacking playing style for the Independents Cup)
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Manager: Ginny Katesmar (50 y/o, North Prarie)
STARTERS
GK: Stephanie BRYAN 35 y/o, Antslinngs Islands Ladies
Stephanie Bryan finally gets to represent the blue, orange, and green once again after over four years of sitting out due to a new reliance on the likes of Yannie Redborne and Yelena Valinovskaya to ride the bench while Victoria Carter is on form, but with Redborne now retiring from international footie and Valinovskaya recovering from ligament repair surgery, Steph will now get the chance to be seen riding the Fleftic bench once again. But whether she will be the long-term replacement for Carter and the rest is still up in the air as there are more promising keepers out there, at least according to Holly Jonasson. Finally gets a run out as the starter for the women's national team, at least for the 5th Independents Cup.
RB: Colleen ADAMS 28 y/o, Sporting Ceneisis Women
There was a time when people wondered what Colleen can offer to the national side. Seven years on and now we know what it is: defensive solidity in the back four. What more can a team ask for then? Well, maybe less yellow and red cards from Colleen. She's had her fair share of those at club level and the SFA is not really keen on her starting up a new account with the referees at the Independents Cup.
RCB: Catarina SOLER 34 y/o, Keephall Valkyries
Soler has served as a dependable supporting unit for both center-backs, but once again she is a player that is played out of position in most international games that she gets to play. Soler prefers being a true center-back, but that doesn't mean that she shirks from the responsibilities of being a central fullback shifted a little to the right or the left. Soler had a chance to rise up to the senior women's team but a drop in form coinciding with injuries has kept her out of the national team setup until now. Now Catarina wants to prove that she still has what it takes to be an international quality center back.
LCB: Miranda SULLINS 28 y/o, Sporting Ceneisis Women
An exciting prospect if only for the fact that she had gotten herself noticed through the Sporting Ceneisis youth academy, which had been a bit neglected by Artemio Peres in favor of getting players both locally and abroad for as much as his team's Bellinsgauzenian boss is willing to let him spend. Still, it wouldn't do to take away from the fact that she is indeed a good defender, if a bit raw even for the standards of the under-21 teams. And an international call-up such as thing can do no harm to her career. Right?
LB: Deborah RIDDLES 26 y/o, Keephall Valkyries
Right now, she's a left back, but Deborah is a natural wing-back who has the potential to develop into an out-and-out winger. Deborah is currently playing with the defense, but only because that is her best footballing position at the moment. Still loves to throw in a cross and will often clog up the left side of the field alongside the team's out-and-out left wingers.
RM: Stephanie WINTER-SLAUGHTER 27 y/o, Marinos Thimpodopoulos Women (Fhulghamous Peninsula, playing in the Fleftic Ladies' Premier League)
Winter-Slaughter's surname sounds rather weird when you consider her biggest asset is an unprecedented sense of justice, but it really is. Winter-Slaughter, while a competent midfielder with enough room to grow, became much more notorious for her actions both in and outside of the field, often helping opponents and team-mates at distress from injuries or pretty much anything else. Conquered some hearts for her kindness, funnily enough. Stephanie was given Fleftic citizenship on the recommendation of Heinrich Wurzmann after the disappearance of the Unified Sunrise Islands so that Abanhfleft could take advantage of her talents.
LM: ERIN Jensdottir-Jennings 30 y/o, Rosenpfelblatz City Ladies
We finally come to one of the most controversial additions to Abanhfleft's Independents Cup squad yet. Not a person living in Abanhfleft hasn't heard of the story of Erin Jensdottir and her friend Britt Hanokssen. The two of them had gotten in trouble with an Anglatian gang and their friend Bisera Haralampieva, of Rosen City Ladies and Pridnestrovia women's national team fame, called on another friend of hers to get Erin and Britt out of trouble. They did so by faking Erin and Britt's deaths and substituting them for two dead bodies. Britt and Erin had ended up playing for FC United of Riuwiee in the seventh tier of Fleftic football before they finally came clean about their status, resulting in the biggest ever points deduction in Fleftic football history and a massive settlement package with Hunsen Loggers from United of Riuwiee for both Erin and Britt. Erin is described as the complete playmaker able to operate from deep or right in front with the forwards, which is why Heinrich Wurzmann recommended her naturalization in time for the Independents Cup.
RW: Elene LINER 24 y/o, Sarvusdalamoive Ladies
Even at her young age, Elene already has the look of a future fantastic keeper. Well, what else can be said about the Sarvusdalamoive Football Academy, which has turned out great Fleftic keepers like Maksim Varamoninov and Victoria Carter? Unfortunately, she's slipped down the pecking order, but only because Brook Arzate deserves the chance to start this time. She had a lot to make up for after that emotionally devastating penalty shootout loss against Schottia in the 9th Under-15 World Cup and she ended up not having the mental strength to get over the disappointment of the shootout so she decided to become a striker instead. This way she hopes to emulate some of Abanhfleft's star forwards like Matthew Cave and Ruud Akinfenyor who started off as goalkeepers and then decided to make the move up to the top of the pitch.
CAM: Prudence WOODWARD 24 y/o, Duhblakk Aztecs
Prudence Woodward is the third and final player of Panemian descent to represent the blue, orange, and green for the Sporting World Cup. She is the younger sister of Julius Woodward and her future appears to be in central attacking midfield. Prudence is already displaying a taste for clever through-balls and occupying pockets of space in which she could create chances and even score a few goals herself. Prudence has also been rumored to be displaying more than just friendly attention and camaraderie with the team's resident lesbian Poppaea Fleet-Street but that's hardly important to the conversation. But although nothing has been confirmed yet, it could be said that it won't be much of a surprise if Prudence came out and admitted that she has a relationship with Poppaea. Also already a mother after an argument with Prudence led to a one-night stand with fellow under-18 teammate Prince William Luckless.
LW: Amelie RUSEV 24 y/o, Ludogorets Markovsky Ladies
Amelie Rusev is the best player on current Fleftic under-18 team after Gareth Williamson. At just 18 years old, she's already looking like the complete winger package. Not only is she both quick and light on her feet and strong in the air and during challenges, she is ambidextrous, able to use both feet to send in long balls and crosses into the box when she wants. With that added crossing ability, Amelie is already on her way to the first team of Ludogorets Markovsky Ladies at such a tender age. Kasper Molak will surely look to make Amelie the successor to Raisa Korovina as the next Miss Ludogorets.
ST: Kelly McGINNIS 24 y/o, Hoventon & Corlington Town (Mercedini)
Kelly McGinnis could very well be the next Chelsea Stuart. Lord knows she's got the raw talent in her veins and her feet. Her only problem is in getting out of Besanza to continue her development and make sure that it's on the right track to actually making her the next Chelsea Stuart. Kelly wants to move abroad to develop herself in a world-class side, and she believes that the Sporting World Cup is her way to gaining that attention and getting that move abroad. She did well in her first stint abroad, winning a domestic cup with Mercedini's Hoventon & Corlington Town, but another potential loan move to the Gallian Union fell through and she's had to stay with Airbus Besanza for this season. This could very well change though as another opportunity could be opening up for her, but it's going to take her much farther away from the Fhulghamous than just Mercedini...
RESERVES
GK: Ursula QATINTIKI 32 y/o, Crisisbless Athletic (Nephara)
Qatintiki is a ferocious keeper who believes herself to be a good sweeper but unfortunately doesn't have all the necessary skills to be an actual sweeper keeper. Fortunately for her, she's managed to keep 10 clean sheets in the Premier Development League (Ladies' Division) for Sarvusdalamoive Ladies. Unfortunately for her, this performance hasn't carried to her first international call-up in the Sporting World Cup, where she conceded a total of 14 goals in the tournament. But the presence of an experienced back four in front of her could help her concede less in this tournament. Despite being a rapidly rising star in Sarvusdalamoive, Qatintiki opted to cut her contract and sign up for the Pridnestrovian Volunteer Legions in ESTORVIPA. She could actually be charged with treason for fighting for another sovereign nation but the SFA has pulled favors with the Ministry of Justice to delay her trial until the end of the Independents Cup.
GK: Bronwyn CHURCHILL 24 y/o, Rosenpfelblatz City Ladies
Bronwyn is the daughter of Rosenpfelblatz City's new manager Joseph "Joe" Churchill, one of the most decorated managers in the sport within the Fleftic sphere of influence. Bronwyn came with her dad to Rosenpfelblatz and immediately settled in well with the Lady Sky Blues' academy. She is a traditional keeper who prefers to keep close to goal and catch or slap away shots from that position, although she is learning to become a more athletic keeper now that she's training with the likes of Yannie Redborne, Marfa Kirilenko, and Blaze Chrzanowska. It should be noted that Joe Churchill would have liked it more if his daughter had not wanted to be a goalkeeper, but at least he as a father won't worry about where she's been before, during, and after training because they're always in close proximity to each other.
RB: Queen YARNALL 21 y/o, Admiral Porcusces Women
A quiet and sturdy defender who for her age is already making waves not only in the youth leagues but also in her handful of appearances for the Admiral Porcusces Women senior team. Still needs some work obviously but she could have a very high ceiling indeed.
CB: Christy SHEPLEY 25 y/o, Rosenpfelblatz City Ladies
At 6 feet 2 inches, Christy is already one of the tallest 17-year-old Fleftic central defenders ever in the Democratic Republic and its sphere of influence. Coupled with a supernatural defensive ability, it's a wonder why she's still on the bench and not starting, until one realizes that Christy is quite the thin and willowy girl. She's a good defender and good in aerial and dead-ball situations, there's no doubt about that, but she has to bulk up and get stronger if she is to become one of Abanhfleft's best defenders. She remains on the bench to make way for Miranda Sullins and Catarina Soler in this Independents Cup squad.
CB: Tiera WALRATH 23 y/o, Ogovlich Medusas
One quarter of the Ogovlich backline that won them the Youth Premier League title this season. Like Wilton Kaba beside her in the under-18 team, Tiera's main purpose is to win balls inside the box and then kick it right out of the danger area. Accuracy needs a bit of work though.
LB: Tien GOODLETT 22 y/o, Ogovlich Medusas
The second quarter of the Ogovlich backline that won the Youth Premier League. Tien is more of an attacking fullback who likes to maraud further up the pitch and assist in the attack. She still gets back in defense more times than not but a particularly quick counterattack could still leave her stranded where she can be of no help to her fellow defenders.
RM: SIBUSIZWE Kiggwancha 22 y/o, Athletic Motonou
SIbusizwe's greatest strength lies in the fact that she can win the ball in midfield more times than not. Of course, most of this is against girls and boys on or nearly the same age as she is, but when she turned out for Athletic Motonou's senior side in the last few matchdays of the Ladies' Third Division season (with the title already wrapped up for Motonou) Sibusizwe looked capable of doing much the same thing against players who were much older and much more experienced than her. Sibusizwe won't have to do that against older and experienced players from other national teams just yet, but she will have to do it against her fellow under-18s from other countries starting from this tournament.
CM: Abigail PAPADIAMANTOPOULOS 31 y/o, All-Inclusive Haranguer
Abigail is the tallest player in this roster at 6 feet 8 inches, taller than even her supposed lookalike Stephanie Bryan. Abigail used to play Sunday league with Anglatia's Ross Port Rangers before Fleftic scouts noticed her during the 38th Di Bradini Cup and she signed a contract with Wallace Partridge's All-Inclusive Haranguer. Partridge chose to sign Abigail due to her size and her playstyle which is very much reminiscent of one of the most famous (if not the best) players to put on the black-and-amber shirt in Sutalen "The Beast of Copper Cuprum" Desoka. Despite helping All-Inclusive Haranguer to a fifth-place finish in the 2022-23 season, she was never called up for Anglatia's national team, and with the country now returning to its policy of total isolation, Abigail was given Fleftic citizenship on the recommendation of Heinrich Wurzmann so the SFA could take advantage of her skills on the pitch.
LM: Charlene WILLIAMSON 25 y/o, Admiral Porcusces Women
Charlene Williamson is the overlooked twin sister of Gareth Williamson. The reasons why she's been overlooked is because her main assets in football are mostly pace, acceleration, physicality, and a good long ball. Charlene can also run with the ball or chase it for 90 minutes and anyone stupid enough to try to take the ball away from her would find themselves on the ground almost immediately. Strangely though, Charlene's physicality tends to vanish during set pieces and Charlene could now count herself lucky if she doesn't end up kissing the grass while trying to get a touch on a corner or a free kick. Perhaps that's why Sporting Ceneisis allowed her to go to their provincial rivals Admiral Porcusces.
CAM: BRITT Hanokssen-Hanks 27 y/o, Rosenpfelblatz City Ladies
Erin Jensdottir's best friend and girlfriend, Britt has been called "too ambitious for her own good" by the man who would eventually recommend bringing Britt over to Rosenpfelblatz, Matthew Cave. Britt isn't exactly the best, most mobile, most skillful, fastest, or most accurate player available for the Independents Cup, but she makes up for it in her sheer never-say-die attitude. Other things that other players might consider lost causes are just more challenges for Britt to overcome. That being said, if Britt does end up making an appearance for Abanhfleft, it's probably more out of desperation than anything else. But still, no one knows. Maybe this is the tournament where Britt finally shines bright.
FW: Annamarie SABADO 29 y/o, Arsenal de Releinthi Ladies
LS: Annamarie SABADO 21 y/o, Arsenal de Releinthi Ladies Image, female
Sabado has the makings of being "the next Fleftic super-sub." No less a footballing authority than Arsenal de Releinthi manager Godric Wexler said so after Sabado had scored the game-winning goal against Lutine to give Abanhfleft a ticket to the Sporting World Cup final. And, judging from her inclusion into the Independents Cup, Heinrich Wurzmann and Miriam Whitaker look to do the same with her for the coming tournament.
FW: Irina BABARUSHCHIK 34 y/o, Dynamo Shebchetsik (Mercedini)
Babarushchik used to be in (friendly) competition with Annamarie Sabado for the position of Arsenal de Releinthi Ladies U-21s' starting striker, but Sabado ended up being the winner in the long run as Babarushchik couldn't wait for Chelsea Stuart to retire (which is still a long time coming anyway) and the half-Pridnestrovian striker struck out for greener pastures in the form of Mercedini's Dynamo Shebchetsik. Now, as both Irina and Annamarie return to the Fleftic national team setup for the Independents Cup, they are once again back to competing with each other for the honor of being the next Fleftic super-sub.
KITS (by Adidulas)
SCHEDULE
MD1: Abanhfleft vs Trolleborg @ Stadium of the Old Forester, Markovsky, Mezaladbyi Province (capacity 40,202)
MD2: Crystalline Caverns vs Abanhfleft @ Unknown stadium, Crystalline Caverns (capacity unknown)
MD3: Abanhfleft vs Brigantii @ Filibusters' Street, Porcusces, Ceneisis Province (capacity 35,712)
MD4: Sarzonia vs Abanhfleft @ Dave Wilson Stadium, Woodstock (capacity 105,690)
MD5: Abanhfleft vs Brenecia @ May 26 Revolution Memorial Stadium, Riuwiee (capacity 71,385)
MD6: The Sherpa Empire vs Abanhfleft @ Hunan Territorial People's Stadium, Changsha (capacity est. 55,000)
MD7: Abanhfleft vs Atlantic Republic @ Pixylight Stadium at Clifton Park, Niraza, Berkner Bay Province (capacity 30,277)
MD8: Terre Septentrionale vs Abanhfleft @ Unknown stadium (capacity unknown)
MD9: Abanhfleft vs Casta Marina @ NLighten Arena, Suwkpel, Berkner Bay Province (capacity 37,955)
MD10: Banija vs Abanhfleft @ The Stadium of the Restoration, Busukuma (capacity 91,835)
MD11: Bye
MD12: Trolleborg vs Abanhfleft @ 11th December Stadium, Trolleborg City (capacity est. 100,000)
MD13: Abanhfleft vs Crystalline Caverns @ Oubie Park, Lotherstadt, Xemlice Province (capacity 47,312)
MD14: Brigantii vs Abanhfleft @ Unknown stadium, Brigantii (capacity unknown)
MD15: Abanhfleft vs Sarzonia @ Throckmorton Bridge, Mereilles, Ceneisis Province (capacity 47,630)
MD16: Brenecia vs Abanhfleft @ Kingsgarden, Rozelle (capacity est. 58,000)
MD17: Abanhfleft vs The Sherpa Empire @ Aeroflot Stadium, Rosenpfelblatz, Mezaladbyi Province (capacity 56,097)
MD18: Atlantic Republic vs Abanhfleft @ Unknown stadium (capacity unknown)
MD19: Abanhfleft vs Terre Septentrionale @ Bombers Park, Effelenendro (capacity 65,069)
MD20: Casta Marina vs Abanhfleft @ Unknown stadium (capacity unknown)
MD21: Abanhfleft vs Banija @ Monsanto Stadium, Releinthi (capacity 60,757)
MD22: Bye
RP Permissions
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