Radio Sankt Konrad (Domestic Football Newswire)

[Sankt Konrad]

Radio Sankt Konrad

The national broadcaster of the Protectorate of Sankt Konrad, Radio Sankt Konrad is pleased to introduce its new Foreign Service. In the past, radio and television broadcasts have only been available on the island of Sankt Konrad in Albmoti and Teus, however, RSK will now make available to foreign nations translations of all programming. As part of this, the Raidodassi and other Sankt Konrad Football Association-affiliated tournaments, such as the SKFA Cup, will have full results available to the foreign press. This coincides with the National Ministry of Sport and SKFA's joint decision to enter the international football and handball stages, submitting clubs to IFCF competition and the Sankt Konrad national football team to WCC-affiliated tournaments.

In this thread, results from Sankt Konrad football and handball will be posted. We encourage foreign observers to get to know the leagues, their clubs, and the people that make up the Island of Sankt Konrad. Burasboahtin!/Wilkommen!/Welcome!

(OOC: This thread serves as a newswire for Sankt Konrad. Please do not post in this thread unless you have permission from myself (also Siovanija and Teusland), or are a moderator performing their duties. Thanks.)

[Sankt Konrad]

2020 Raidodassi Season - Preview (Part I)

The Raidodassi is the premier class of football in the Protectorate of Sankt Konrad. Featuring 8 top flight clubs, it was officially founded in 1917, and accepted professional clubs in 1925. Prior to 1917, clubs played in the Sankt Konrad Football Division, and prior to 1896, as part of the Kolonialliga, one of the regional leagues of the Teus Football Association. It is one of the two sanctioned leagues by the Sankt Konrad Football Association (SKFA), the other being the Silbadassi, the second tier. Clubs also compete in the SKFA Cup.

Sankt Konrad was once a colony of the Teus Empire, starting in 1521 when the first Teus ship, also known as the Sankt Konrad, arrived at the island. After achieving independence in 1896, after the fall of the Teus Empire, a new nation was born. Sankt Konrad is populated both by Teus descendants of the colonists (about 10,000 or so) and the Albmoti population, the nomadic people who are the indigenous habitants of the island (about 50,000 or so). A note on names: most Albmoti do not have a surname, and are referred to simply as their first name. Some with more popular names will also use their middle name.

Historically, the league has been dominated by two clubs, Kolonial and Nomadik. The two clubs have a total of 81 league titles and 74 Cup wins between them. However, other clubs have proven able to compete with them, and the league is shaping up to be more and more competitive in the future.

7 of the 8 top-flight clubs, as of 2020, are professional, while a further is semi-pro. The league officially accepts pro, semi-pro and amateur clubs. Of the 16 licensed clubs on Sankt Konrad, 8 are professional, 5 semi-pro, and 3 amateur. A dispute in 1925 over whether the league should accept pro and semi-pro clubs led to the fall of an ‘Old Guard,’ of clubs, and the rise of the new era of Kolonial and Nomadik’s dominance.

Financially, the league, much like the country, is quite rich. Sankt Konrad has been able to turn quite a profit off of the oil reserves in the seas around it, and the government provides a substantial basic income to all of its 61,600 citizens. Half of the oil profits are shared with the United Republics of Siovanija & Teusland, a part-owner in the ANG holding company that controls the oil due to colonial history, but even half is enough to make the small island substantially rich. Most clubs do not make much money off of gate receipts or television, but instead sponsorship. The national oil company, ANG, desires good relationships with the various communities, and most clubs will have their shirts and other things sponsored by the company. Clubs also receive significant government funding, as sport provides something to do on an island that lacks in that department. The funding is encouraged to go to youth development so that all youth have the opportunity to participate in sport, but there is usually a great deal of excess. Of course, most clubs are also owned by rich oil barons who can afford pretty much anything, particularly Kolonial and Nomadik.

Football is about even in popularity on the island with handball, the de facto national sport. Most clubs are multi-sport operated, and Kolonial and Nomadik’s domination also extends on that side of things. The national handball league, however, runs through the fall and winter months of the year, while football runs in the late spring and summer. Some players at the semi-pro and amateur level will play both sports.

The SKFA has taken the decision to participate in IFCF competitions in the future, and open the league to foreign players. A maximum of 3 foreigners will be allowed in the squad beginning next season, but it is yet to be seen if the league can attract foreign players. Kolonial and Nomadik have the money, for sure, but bringing foreign stars to Sankt Konrad is another thing entirely. IFCF competition is hoped to allow teams other than the big 2 to become even more competitive and try to break-up the duopoly further in the future. It will also give Kolonial and Nomadik a much bigger test on the world stage. The rules regarding qualification are as follows: the champion will participate in the IFCF Champions’ League. The 2nd and 3rd placed squads will qualify for the IFCF Challengers’ Cup. The final CC spot will be determined through the Cup. If the Cup winner has already qualified for one of the tournaments, it will then pass to the runner up, before being passed to the club in 4th position. This is intended to make clubs outside of the Big 2 take the Cup more seriously as a view to potential international qualification. Of course, the Cup winner will also qualify for the Cygnus Cup. The champion will also qualify for the Rushmori regional championship. At this time, the SKFA has opted against participating in the Liga B Champions’ Trophy.

At the end of the year, the bottom-placed club in the Raidodassi will be relegated, and the champion of the Silbadassi will replace them. In certain circumstances, however, the Raidodassi’s remaining members can vote to block a promotion. This has only ever happened twice. Poliisa’s promotion was blocked in 1929, mostly as retaliation from Kolonial and Nomadik over the heated professionalization debates a few years earlier. In 1973, FJ Jokkohakko were blocked from promotion on the grounds that their stadium could not actually seat fans. The club, from a village of 400 people, had a pitch with standing room available all the way around it from a 3-metre distance. The Raidodassi clubs argued this could be unsafe for their travelling supporters, particularly Kolonial and Nomadik who are known for bringing many fans on away days. Jokkohakko responded by building a stand for 50 people in a corner of the pitch with obstructed sightlines, and declared it the away stand. Kolonial and Nomadik were furious, but the rest of the league accepted the arrangement. Jokkohakko would not earn promotion again until 1981, but their stadium remains this way to this day, with the home fans simply standing around the pitch.

All league and Cup matches are carried on the national broadcaster, Radio Sankt Konrad, in both the Albmoti and Teus languages, as well as RBC Sankt Konrad in Teus. Several sports specialty channels also offer matches. This year, for the first time, matches will be available to the foreign press. We look forward to bringing you complete coverage of the Raidodassi’s 2020 season. Here are the 8 clubs that will contest this season, ranked in order of last season’s finishing position.

Kolonial
Colours: Dark red and gold
Manager: Horst Prantl (man-manager, doesn’t make too many adjustments, plays mind games in the press. Willing to integrate youth players.)
Stadium: Der Hafen (2500)
Nicknames: Der Pioniere, Rot und Geld, Der Fischer (derogatory)
Status: Professional

Starting XI (4-4-2): GK - Adrian Ganser (25); LB - Simon Husch (22), CB - Rede (26), CB - Nilpa (23), RB - Migal (28); LM - Lars Herrer (26), CM - Bastian Kreuzberg (30) (cap), CM - Iskko (25), RM - Hentto (29); CF - Timo Hackl (24), CF - Lavo (18)

Season Preview: Defending title winners, Kolonial certainly have the power to bring home #47 this year, in what would be their 6th straight championship. Adrian Ganser is developing quite nicely, much as the club had hoped, and his shot-stopping ability is second to none. Rede has been the star of the backline for several years now, and younger faces Husch and Nilpa have grown into very solid faces indeed. Migal is, as always solid, and this backline should have no trouble keeping balls out of the net. The midfield duo of Kreuzberg and Iskko is the best in the league, Iskko unplayable on his day. He can beat you a million different ways before you even have a chance to stop him. On the wings, Lars Herrer and Hentto inject a great deal of pace, and are useful in attack, while a young duo up-front of Hackl and Lavo should be good for goals between them: Hackl able to hold up the ball well, and Lavo projecting as a great poacher. Not many can compete with Kolonial, and it might just be another golden year for them.

League Titles: 46 (1926, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
Cup Titles: 40 (1922, 1926, 1932, 1938, 1944, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016)

History: Founded in 1919 as the Kolonial Athletic Club, Kolonial has risen to become one of the biggest clubs in Sankt Konrad, and its most successful, with 86 domestic honours to date. Kolonial shocked the old establishment of amateur clubs by winning the 1922 SKFA Cup, and when they announced they would turn professional in 1925, it changed the league forever.

Cross-town rivals Nomadik would join them in professionalization shortly afterwards, marking the beginning of the classic rivalry between the two sides. The neighbours dominated the league in the 20s, 30s and 40s, but things were more even in the 50s and early 60s. In 1969, the two rivals faced each other down on the final matchday, tied in the standings. Kolonial smashed the old enemy 8-0 to take the 1969 title. That moment marked a complete shift in power in Sankt Konrad’s top league. Kolonial proceeded to win 10 championships in a row, dominating through their use of tough, physical football. At one point during this time, they even applied to join the league system in Siovanija & Teusland, but were blocked from doing so by the Sankt Konrad FA.

Kolonial’s dominance was such that there was a genuine belief that the club would never again lose a league title. Fans, in fact, protested the SKFA’s decision to stop Kolonial from joining the Teus regional leagues, because of a belief that the league could only be rejuvenated if Kolonial was no longer a part of it. Nomadik, however, heavily opposed Kolonial leaving, fearing that losing out on the derby would greatly harm them as a football club. Kolonial dropped any intentions of leaving the SKFA in the mid-80s, although they refused to participate in the SKFA Cup from 1983-85 in protest.

League dominance followed in the 1980s, as the red & gold won 7 titles in that decade, but the 1990 season would see things begin to change. FJ Gaivuotna won a league and cup double, before repeating the league win in 1991. This gave new hope that the league could be competitive again, and also marked the end of Kolonial’s golden era. They would win 3 more titles in a row after that, but the era of a league monopoly was over. Kolonial would go 7 years before winning the league again: the longest drought in club history. The 2001 team were heavy underdogs, expected to pose little challenge to a Nomadik side looking to take their 7th straight title. Kolonial, however, defeated Nomadik in all 4 derby matches to win the league by 1 point, ending the drought and stopping Nomadik’s run.

That win wouldn’t mark a new decade of dominance for Der Pionier, however, and they would only win 2 other titles in the 2000s. A new era emerged, however, in the 2010s, with players like Rede, Iskko and Bastian Kreuzberg being a key part of a run of 4 titles in a row. Kolonial will be looking to make it 2 straight this year, as they inch closer and closer to 50 total titles and a 5th star on their crest.

Club Overview: The club was originally founded by members of the FK Wilhelmstadt football club that wanted to also compete in handball and cricket. The cricket branch ended up surviving separately, eventually affiliating with authorities in Teusland - the Kolonial Cricket Club. The handball and football branches, however, survived as the Kolonial Athletic Club, originally intended for the descendents of the original Teus colonists on the island. Gradually, it also accepted Albmoti members - the first Albmot to play for the club was in 1954. In 1925, the club was at the centre of a major controversy in football, a debate over whether it should remain professional or amateur. While the ‘Old Guard’ clubs of Wilhelmstadt, Hafenarbeiter and the ANG-Mannschaft wanted amateurism, seeing as most of their players worked in the docks or the oil rigs, the ‘New Guard’ of Kolonial and Nomadik wanted to go pro. Eventually, local clubs around the nation joined them, and today, with the exception of the ‘Old Guard’ clubs, every team in the country is either fully professional or semi-pro.

While Kolonial and Nomadik were allies on this fight, that would not last long. History and competition were destined to make them enemies. The 1926 Cup Final, won by Kolonial, saw the beginnings of this, and by the next year’s final between the two, won by Nomadik, the rivalry had been born. There’s no hate quite like that of two teams who compete for the title and the Cup every single year, with almost no interruption, and the ‘New Guard’ live up to the billing. Not only do the fans hate each other, the players usually do as well: full-on brawls were a regular occurance in the 1980s, including the 1988 Cup Final, which saw the match never finished: Kolonial, up 4-0 in the 87th minute when the fight began, were simply awarded the Cup. The two teams have played 53 Cup finals between them, and faced-off with the league on the line on countless occasions. Traditionally, the clubs will play on Independence Day hosted by Nomadik, and on Mittsommer hosted by Kolonial, the other fixtures scattered throughout the season.

Today, Kolonial are one of the two ‘superclubs’ in the league, alongside their forever rival. Some call it the ‘New Guard’ rivalry, for Kolonial fans it’s simply ‘Der Spiel,’ ‘The Game.’ Kolonial can boast a very proud record indeed, as the most successful club in Sankt Konrad’s history: 46 leagues, 40 cups, which their fans love to remind naysayers of. They have no trouble with finances, either: to be fair, no club does in a nation built off oil money, but Kolonial are in a particular calibre of ‘no trouble’ only matched by, of course, Nomadik. As a result, they’re usually able to buy the best of the best players in the league, and have tried to buy players from Teusland in the past - usually to no avail, as few players want to abandon comfort to go to a country that will likely never be described as ‘comfortable.’

Kolonial are perched at the very top of the Raidodassi, and that has made them hated by almost all around them. It has also poised them to be the leaders as the Raidodassi steps forward into the future.

Fans: Kolonial are the second-best supported team on Sankt Konrad, after Nomadik. They draw most of their support from the Teus-speaking population on the island, and this adds a cultural dimension to the rivalry with Nomadik: Teus vs Albmoti, played out this time on a football pitch. It’s not fair to say, however, that every Kolonial fan is Teus: many Albmoti have played and starred for the club, and in Wilhelmstadt itself more and more Albmoti support the red and gold.

As a result of this, however, many fans are positioned on a more Teus nationalist standing, and the flag of Teusland (the Empire, not the modern-day Teusland) and the Teus naval standard are often seen at matches. They don’t want to join up with the United Republics, however: they want the House of Stelburg restored to the imperial throne and a new Teus Empire to be formed. This sentiment isn’t as prevalent today, however, as younger people move away from these interpretations of the past. You’ll still regularly see, however, banners declaring the island ‘loyal,’ or displaying images of old Teus Kaisers. Another favourite is the Sankt Konrad Volunteer Force, a division of soldiers from the island who fought for Teusland in the Great War (1890-95). The legion’s symbols are also often seen at matches, and their songs belted as well - ‘The Sankt Konrad Boys,’ and ‘Soldier of Teusland’ being particular favourites. Much of the fan identity at the club is based around these ideas.

The club’s most-used nickname is Der Pioniere, the pioneers. That was the name given to the original 35 Teus colonists who founded the Wilhelmstadt settlement in 1521, and applied to generations of those who followed after. ‘Rot und Geld’ is also used, a reference to the club’s colours. Rivals, especially Nomadik, call them ‘Der Fischer,’ the fishermen. That’s a reference to the fact that the original Teus settlers preferred fishing to the traditional hunting and reindeer herding of the Albmoti people. ‘Fischer’ became a stereotype for that particular brand of Teus colonist who refused to adapt to their new home.

Kolonial fans have their own name for Nomadik, however - ‘Der Wilde’ - the savages. An outdated callback to past colonial days when the Albmoti people were seen as savages by the Teus, the word has become less and less acceptable over time, and there’s a debate within the fanbase over whether it should be used - especially when the squad contains Albmoti players. Kolonial fans have other ways of poking fun at their rival anyways - implications of a very close relationship between Nomadik supporters and their reindeer (reindeer herding a common pastime in Sankt Konrad) being a particular favourite.

Kolonial’s fans have been praised for their songbook, a mixture of cultural references and football references. The old Teus imperial anthem, ‘Land of Heavenly Bounty,’ is often sung. Some songs relate to both culture and football: ‘46 times and 1521, do da, do da’ a common refrain sung against Nomadik to refer to both the league championships won by the club and the date the first Teus arrived on Sankt Konrad. ‘Here stands a soldier of Teusland,’ declares the aforementioned ‘Soldier of Teusland,’ also a favourite of FC Teussen Stelburg supporters, while ‘We’ll guard his walls forever’ is the refrain of ‘Wilhelm’s Town’. The club have made an effort to stamp out more vulgar songs sung by the support directed at Nomadik, and the rival have done the same with their own fans, but derby day usually brings out the troublemakers anyways. Football-wise, Kolonial fans expect the very best from their team: famously, Kolonial were jeered off the pitch after losing 2-0 to FJ Girona despite winning the league anyways on the final day. Failure is not acceptable, at all, and the fans make sure the players know that. If they perform to expectations, however, as they have for most of Kolonial’s storied history, there’s few fanbases in the world that offer as much love as this one.

As the most successful team in Sankt Konrad football, and the cultural dynamics, Kolonial are by far the most hated team in the league. Divtasvuodno and FJ Girona have had their own spells of competing with Kolonial for titles, while other clubs simply hate them because they’re Kolonial. The only club Kolonial’s fans enjoy a good relationship with is FC Sankt Leopold, another club originally established for Teus-speakers on the island. But beyond that, everyone wants to see Kolonial fail, making their triumphs even sweeter for their fans.

Nomadik
Colours: Navy blue and white
Stadium: Albmotsstadion (2250)
Manager: Volbmar Albe (reputation as a tactical manager, constantly making adjustments in game. Quiet in the press, gives youth players a chance)
Nicknames: The People, The Nomads, min joavku, ‘our team’
Status: Professional

Starting XI (4-3-3): GK - Lejo (30) (cap); LB - Mavnos (25), CB - Lenne (24), CB - Ovla (25), RB - Rastos (23); LM - Iisku (25), CM - Gappe (19), RM - Vuoitu (23); LW - Aksel (20), RW - Elias Nilse (23), CF - Morten (25)

Season Preview: The Nomads have been bridesmaids the last few seasons in the league, and despite a win in 2018, they might not be ready to win this year. The old faces that helped deliver the title 2 years ago are retired, replaced with the new: Gappe, Aksel, Elias Nilse amongst them. Is the young core ready to compete for the title? Lejo is consistently solid in goal, while there are question marks about experience almost everywhere else. With an average age of 23.8, this Nomadik squad still has some growing to do, and they might need another year of seasoning before truly competing with Kolonial.

League Titles: 35 (1927, 1928, 1931, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1979, 1981, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2018)
Cup Wins: 34 (1924, 1927, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1967, 1975, 1977, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019)

History: In 1920, the town of Wilhelmstadt was still predominantly Teus-speaking, but with a growing Albmoti population, especially in the east end. New schools and other services were built for this population, and with them came the Nomadik Athletic Association, playing both handball and football. Named ‘Nomadik’ after the traditional lifestyle of the Albmoti people, the club quickly rose to prominence in the community and the city as a whole, especially after winning the 1924 SKFA Cup. In 1925, at a league meeting debating professionalism vs amateurism, Nomadik’s leaders threw their support behind Kolonial’s proposal to allow pro clubs, and thus ushered in a new era.

Nomadik quickly came to dominate the new league, perfecting the WM formation in the mid-30s that enabled them to capture 5 straight league titles at the end of that decade. The 40s and 50s saw more success for the club, having a monopoly on league and cup titles: 16 of each, putting them ahead of Kolonial in the trophy count. The 60s marked a bit of a decline in fortune, however: the club won 3 in a row in the early part of the decade, but then struggled to compete with Kolonial as other clubs like Divtasvuodno and FJ Girona competed at the top instead. A surprise league win would come in 1968, the remnants of the 62-63-64 winners key to that win, and they nearly won again in 1969 before a final-day collapse. After that, however, it was a dark, dark era.

Nomadik struggled to replace their core pieces in the early 70s, seeing more and more peripheral clubs that had once served simply as development farms for Nomadik rise in prominence, namely the aforementioned Girona and Divtasvuodno. Nomadik were beginning to be displaced in the league, finishing as low as 6th in 1972. Investment started to come in the youth academy, the club realizing its identity of visually beautiful football alone wouldn’t win them titles. Kolonial’s bullying style forced Nomadik to change their system, a change that would eventually reap its rewards. In the short term, Nomadik managed to capture 2 Cups in the mid 70s to not come away completely empty-handed, before returning to the top of the league in 1979. 1981 was another league win for the Nomads, but the 80s quickly became another decade of despair.

With the team’s fortunes falling, the ownership shifted its focus to the handball side of the club, at the time by far the most dominant team in its sport. The stadium was outdated, and a carousel of managers and players weren’t giving any stability. They won the league title in 1987 simply due to luck, Kolonial having a season of re-building, and by 1989 it looked as if the league would simply become Kolonial’s to win every single season. Nomadik squads of the 80s were most known for their penchant for partying instead of winning football matches.

The end of Kolonial’s undisputed reign, however, changed things. FJ Gaivuotna won two titles in spectacular fashion in the early 90s, and this coincided with the first youth class to truly come up under the new system just breaking into the first team. A Cup win in 1991 signalled that Nomadik were back, and while they were still a few years away, the league win in 1995 saw the club back on top for the first time since 1987, and only the 4th time since 1968. They won in dramatic fashion, needing to beat FJ Girona by 5 goals to win the league on goal difference and doing so with 2 goals in the final 15 minutes of the match to win 6-1. The Nomads would follow that up with 5 more titles in a row, and now the question was if the league was Nomadik’s to win every season. Kolonial and a surging FJ Girona would challenge their authority in the early 2000s, but Nomadik still owned that decade with 6 league titles. The early 2010s saw the old guard gradually phasing out, with Kolonial rising back to the top of the league. There’s much to be excited about, however, as Nomadik have some very promising youth players at the moment. The years ahead appear to be set-up for some brilliant clashes between these two old rivals.

Club Overview: Nomadik rose to prominence under a unique set of circumstances in their early history. Founded to support the growing Albmoti community in Wilhelmstadt, they quickly became ingrained in those neighbourhoods, schools and community centres they helped support and build. And at a time when there were few football clubs outside of the capital, Nomadik became the team of choice for many Albmoti people across the island. While that would taper off a bit once other clubs such as FJ Girona, GS Deatnu and Divtasvuodno were founded, you can still find Nomadik supporters’ clubs in most major villages and towns.

Professionalisation in 1925 meant that Nomadik could attract the best of the best Albmoti players from across the island, whereas many other clubs were still only semi-pro. The idea of the football competitions basically being Kolonial vs Nomadik led to a general viewing of Nomadik as ‘our club,’ as the nickname suggests: a representative of the Albmoti people. A majority in Sankt Konrad, but historically less fortunate than their Teus neighbours. And Nomadik’s dominance in the early years made them beloved for their ability to, simply win: finally, the people got one over on the colonists.

Nomadik, despite a decline in fortunes over 2 decades in the previous century, remains today as one of the two ‘superclubs’ of Sankt Konrad football. They regularly challenge for the league and cup titles, and fall into that same calibre of financial power as Kolonial. They are usually able to snap up the best prospects from the peripheral clubs, in addition to their own youth facilities, which were rebuilt in the late 70s and early 80s. Ironically enough, these changes were based on the model of Kolonial, who have had great success in developing players from the Teus population. The club’s identity has often come from playing the game ‘the right way,’ aesthetically pleasing, although that did take a hit as Kolonial muscled their way to dominance in the 70s and 80s. Today, whereas Kolonial’s style is still derived from that win-at-all-costs mentality, Nomadik combines that edge with a desire to stick to their roots and play possession-based football. Yet another area of difference between the two.

In addition to the rivalry with Kolonial, the club haven’t made too many friends with the rest of the league. Some of the more successful of the peripheral clubs, such as FJ Girona and Divtasvuodno, have a competitive edge: Nomadik-Divtasvuodno particularly is a hot-tempered affair. The rest of the clubs don’t like being treated as a farm by Nomadik either. And while they still prefer them to Kolonial, it’s definitely a lesser of two evils scenario. Most fans of other clubs want Kolonial to lose every match they play, and Nomadik to lose every match they play except for the derby. Unfortunately for them, both sides have dominated the league throughout its history, and will look to do so in the future as well.

Nomadik have an interesting few years ahead of them, as they hope to rise back to the top of the league in a new era.

Fans: Nomadik are the most well-supported club in Sankt Konrad, although they are outnumbered in their home town. Wilhelmstadt is, for the most part, Kolonial-dominated, whereas its surrounding towns and villages are strongly pro-Nomadik. A good 30% of the population in other Albmot towns, such as Girona, Deatnu and others also support the club. While some Albmot will make the interesting choice of supporting Kolonial, there is no significant Teus fan presence at Nomadik.

With the large Albmot base of support, there’s a bit of national pride involved here too. The national flag doesn’t fly in the supporters section, instead, the ‘reindeer banner,’ blue and white, flies instead. Nomadik fans don’t have any problem with the Teus in general, and have no issue with the United Republics, but don’t quite get Kolonial’s fascination with the old empire. They’ll counter banners of Kaiser Wilhelm IV with banners of Albmot leaders who worked for independence in the late 1890s, or, from more extreme elements of the fanbase, those members of the Albmoti Resistance Front who worked to sabotage Teus military presence on the island during the Great War.

The club’s main nickname is ‘The Nomads,’ and that is how they are referred to by most media sources. The fans, however, prefer ‘The People,’ a reference to the club representing the Albmoti population. This nickname is hated by other clubs, however, and whenever Kolonial host Nomadik, the home fans hold up a massive banner declaring themselves ‘The Real People.’ Kolonial fans will sometimes call them ‘Der Wilde,’ the savages, a term that has a history and is hated by Nomadik fans. Fans of other Albmoti clubs call them ‘boanda,’ or ‘farmers’ - a derogatory reference to Nomadik stealing the best players of other clubs through history. Nomadik fans call Kolonial ‘The Fishermen,’ a reference to an old stereotype about Teus settlers in Sankt Konrad.

Nomadik are considered to have a very good selection of songs in their repertoire as well, and have a reputation as a particularly loud fanbase. Several songs are based on the cultural tradition of the Albmoti people, with old songs passed along verbally throughout the generations. Then there are the more modern songs as well, either related to football itself or the rivalry with Kolonial. ‘Where’s your Kaiser gone?’ asks one common refrain, the more extreme fans will also sing ‘We blew the Kaiser up,’ a reference to the ARF’s bombing of the docked SMS Kaiser Paulus I during the Great War. Much simpler, there’s also ‘F*** the Kaiser,’ a common refrain against Kolonial. ‘People of the Island’ is a very common song, a call to Albmoti people to rise again as a nation. Another popular song is ‘By the Cliffside,’ a song about life for the Albmoti under the Teus Empire. Football wise, Nomadik fans are known to support the team no matter what. Where Kolonial fans would boo their side off if down 1-0 at the half, Nomadik fans would urge them on. They expect excellence, but are with the team no matter what.

FJ Girona
Colours: Light blue and white
Stadium: Girona-Siliju (900)
Manager: Duomis Lejo (Loves players who work hard, a bit chatty in the press, prefers club’s homegrown talent)
Nicknames: The Skyblues, The Watchmen
Status: Professional

Starting XI (3-5-2): GK - Mavrres (27); CB - Eiven (26), CB - Mades Viktor (29), CB - Jovnna (31) (cap); LWB - Juoksa (25), RWB - Jorge (25), LM - Filpa Iiskku (23), CM - Sappa (25), RM - Gahppa (22); CF - Ailun Rede (26), CF - Simut (23)

Season Preview: Girona finished 3rd place last season, and that’s probably about where they’ll be this year as well. The veteran backline of Eiven-Mades Viktor-Jovnna, combined with a solid keeper in Mavrres, are physically imposing and tough to play against. Things are a bit smoother in the midfield, with Sappa considered one of the best playmaking midfielders in the division. Gahppa and Filpa Iiskku were excellent on the wing last year and inject some pace into the squad. Up front, Simut bangs in the goals, but Ailun Rede shouldn’t be discounted either. They have a decent squad overall, not quite on the level of Kolonial or Nomadik but enough that Girona should end the season at minimum in an IFCF qualification place.

League Titles: 4 (1954, 2002, 2010, 2013)
Cup Wins: 3 (1951, 1958, 1983)

History: The second largest town in Sankt Konrad, Girona, was a bit off the pace of others at the beginning of pro football on the island: while most clubs were founded in the early and mid 20s, FJ Girona’s founding date sits as 1931. There had previously been an FK Girona, who in fact won an SKFA Cup in 1920. That club had been operated by workers of the ANG (holding company in control of the oil fields in the country, jointly owned by the Sankt Konrad & United Republics governments) and was committed to amateurism, supporting the Old Guard clubs at the 1925 league meetings.

By 1931, however, some younger members of the club realized that the only way to compete in the future was through professionalization, and they split off from FK Girona, forming their own club FJ Girona. FK Girona would quickly lose its status in the town to the upstarts, and folded within 10 years. The new club was more representative of the town of Girona as a whole, a majority Albmoti town, and wore the colours light blue and white, the national colours of the Albmot. The light blue was also chosen to represent the sea, which Girona lies beside.

There wasn’t much in the way of early promise for Girona. They struggled to adapt to the new league, which was quickly becoming a duopoly of Kolonial and Nomadik. Some clubs were able to challenge this reign, but FJ Girona were not one of them. They were still new as a football club, and still figuring out their identity through much of the 30s and early 40s. By the end of the 1940s, however, things were changing, and thanks to a blend of strong young homegrown players and great defensive tactics, Girona were becoming a rising team in the league.

In 1950, Girona managed a second-place finish in the league, kicking off a successful decade for the club. The 1951 season saw Girona back down to 3rd, but taking home their first SKFA Cup win. Girona defeated Kolonial in the semifinal before shocking Nomadik in a 3-0 final win to earn their first piece of silverware. The club carried over their strong performances over the next few years, and in 1954 managed to capture the league title, only the 3rd time a club other than the big 2 had won. The 1954 campaign saw Girona defeat Kolonial in 3 of 4 matches and Nomadik in 4 of 4 for a spectacular record and league title win. One further piece of silverware came for Girona’s ‘golden team,’ as they captured another SKFA Cup in 1958, beating Kolonial 2-1 in the final.

The 1960s, however, saw a decline in fortune for Girona, who started to fall a bit behind in the pack and were selling off their best players to Nomadik regularly. There was a worry that the other Girona-based club, Davvenasti, would overtake them in standing. And while Kolonial’s complete domination of the league throughout the 70s hurt pretty much every team, Girona were particularly impacted, not even able to pose Kolonial the slightest challenge. The club languished at the bottom of the Raidodassi for most of this period, at one point even dropping to the second tier Silbadassi. Davvenasti winning a league and cup double in 1980 was also trouble for the Skyblues.

However, FJ Girona managed to pull themselves together in the early 80s, and a cinderella Cup run in 1983 helped bring them back. Drawn away to Kolonial in the second round, Girona managed to beat Kolonial at Der Hafen for the first time in 23 years, a major upset that gave Girona a great chance of winning the Cup. Nomadik were also eliminated before the final, setting up a final between Girona and their major rivals Davvenasti. Girona would prevail 4-2 to capture their first trophy in 25 years.

After that, Girona returned to regular competition in the late 80s and early 90s. And while Kolonial continued to dominate the league at this point, more and more Girona finished as high as second, in 1988 particularly coming close to taking the league title. The 90s were a struggle, as it was for every team in the league not named Kolonial or Nomadik: the superclubs’ hold on the league continued to grow. Girona were able to rebound better than most clubs, however, and shocked the establishment with a league title win in 2002, the first for the club since 1954. Since then, Girona have maintained their reputation as a tough challenge from time to time in the league, winning titles in 2010 and 2013. Girona will be looking to push on in this new era, and hope again to upset the powerful Big 2.

Club Overview: Girona are considered to be one of the ‘pack,’ those clubs that consistently are chasing Kolonial and Nomadik and have, in some years, been able to get the better of them. While several teams have come and gone from this grouping, Girona have been usual suspects for the better part of 5 decades now, and have, in fact, the 4th most silverware amongst Sankt Konrad’s professional clubs. The club have always managed to rebound from any decline in fortunes, and come back stronger than ever.

Girona is the second biggest town on Sankt Konrad, and it’s home to two football clubs: FJ Girona and Davvenasti (North Star), who play out the Girona derby. The rivalry reached its peak in the 1980s, when Davvenasti had an excellent side, and isn’t as hot now, with Davvenasti currently in the second division. There’s a competitive rivalry with Divtasvuodno, who were the other big challengers to the Big 2 through much of the league’s history, and therefore direct rivals with Girona oftentimes. Then, naturally, there’s Nomadik and Kolonial. Girona and Wilhelmstadt aren’t too far apart, which would create a rivalry anyways, but in the context of two hated clubs who win almost every year, it’s amplified. Older Girona fans hate Nomadik more, as Nomadik commonly raided Girona for players in earlier days, while younger Girona fans hate Kolonial more, due to their domination of the league in recent years. Either way, they aren’t friendly at all, and clashes between them are usually full of fireworks.

Girona will be hoping to expand their profile in the coming years, having a solid foundation to build on. The league titles of 2010 and 2013 give hope that the league isn’t just the property of Kolonial or Nomadik, and that other teams can challenge and win. Girona will be looking to continue that in the coming years.

Fans: Girona are the third-best supported club in the nation, after the big two clubs, and are located in the second-biggest town in the nation. Girona is heavily Albmoti, and while a good 25% of those support Nomadik, Girona are the biggest team in town. There are some Teus in Girona, and it’s mostly a 50/50 split between Kolonial and Girona.

Girona doesn’t get involved in the explicitly nationalist politics of Kolonial, or the similar brand seen at Nomadik. There’s more community pride here, the team being one for Girona specifically rather than representing a cultural group. The fanbase identifies with hardworking players who will leave everything out on the pitch after 90 minutes, because they know that’s what it takes to beat the top two. Star players are admired, but the gritty players are adored. Girona fans are considered to be very knowledgeable of the game, and appreciative even of other team’s stars, with even Kolonial and Nomadik players sometimes receiving applause from the home crowd after a great performance.

The club’s main nickname is the Skyblues, named after the colour of their shirts. Another nickname less commonly used is the Watchmen. Girona is home to the oldest lighthouse on Sankt Konrad, and the building has become a symbol for the town, featured on the club crest. The Watchmen thus refers to this heritage.

Girona’s fans aren’t really the loudest in the league, but they do have a fair number of chants, mostly related to football itself rather than anything cultural. ‘The ‘54 Boys’ is a song honouring the 1954 league title winners, naming each member of that squad and recounting their accomplishments. Other than that, chants mostly celebrate current and former players or teams important to Girona’s history. Girona fans are, as mentioned, generally supportive of the team through thick and thin, and don’t have the same demand for winning every single year that Kolonial and Nomadik do. They do expect, however, to challenge, and simply want to see their players work hard in every game.

Divtasvuodno
Colours: Green and red
Stadium: ANG-Nordstadion (700)
Manager: Julejus (Does whatever is necessary to get the win, plays mindgames in press, young players have to prove themselves before earning a full-time spot.)
Nicknames: The Bears
Status: Professional

Starting XI (4-5-1): GK - Fretterat (33) (cap); LB - Herko Nilan (26), CB - Joha (24), CB - Emel (25), RB - Rasmos (22); LM - Joel Simit (24), CM - Nuhtte (21), CM - Marten (26), CM - Riibma (23), RM - Nihkul Jorge (24); CF - Niba (26)

Season Preview: Fourth place last year, Divtas certainly have the potential to move up to at least 3rd. This Bears squad proved tricky to face for Kolonial and Nomadik last season, and they’ll be looking to carry that on here. Fretterat is a veteran leader, the heart of the team, while a younger backline move the ball well, especially centre back Joha. Rasmos is a danger to any team down the right side as well. Nuhtte and Marten formed a great duo last year, and with the addition of Riibma beside them now they’ll be looking to control the midfield in most games. Up top, Niba is a quality target-man who will benefit from having service from the likes of Nihkul Jorge and Joel Simit, two of the better crossers in the division. They’ll be competing with Girona for 3rd, and if they get luck on their side could make a good cup run.

League Titles: 5 (1934, 1943, 1961, 1967, 2011)
Cup Wins: 4 (1928, 1931, 1937, 1976, 1985)

History: One of the oldest football clubs in the nation, Divtasvuodno were founded by a group of Albmoti sportsmen who lived in the town of the same name in 1920. The fourth largest town in the country, Divtasvuodno is located almost directly in the middle of Sankt Konrad. As a result, what was once a winter camp for Albmoti nomads quickly developed into a full-sized town, and the football club too would see a quick rise. Divtasvuodno’s directors opted to support Kolonial and Nomadik in the 1925 league debate over professionalization, becoming a pro club 2 years later in 1927. Just 1 year later, Divtasvuodno would capture the first silverware in the club’s history: a 1928 SKFA Cup triumph, defeating Kolonial in the final 1-0.

More glory was soon to follow for the club, commonly known simply as ‘Divtas’ by fans and foes alike. As the town continued to grow, the club could call on better and better youth products, and Divtas quickly became a powerhouse in the early league. The 1931 squad finished 2nd behind Nomadik by just 1 point, but managed to defeat their rival in the SKFA Cup final to take home a second Cup win in 3 years. The club finished 2nd and 3rd the next two years before finally rising to bring home a first league championship in 1934, beating Kolonial on the second-to-last matchday to secure the win. The squad would go on to win another Cup in 1937, and take one more league championship in 1943 after a year-long dogfight with Nomadik that came down to the final minutes of the final day.

After that, however, there was a bit of a barren spell for Divtas, and in the 50s other clubs, such as FJ Girona, threatened the ecosystem of the Bears being the main competition for Kolonial and Nomadik. GS Deatnu had a small reign at the top as well, but Girona were the main rivals of this time period. The rivalry with Nomadik continued, but wasn’t as heated as the days they were fighting it out for league titles.

The 1961 season saw Divtas go back to the top, however. A younger squad was coming through the ranks, and through new tactical ideas took the league by storm. In that campaign, Divtas lost only 3 games the entire way to take the league title, but just nearly missed a double by losing 4-3 to FC Sankt Leopold in the Cup final. 1961 stands as one of only 2 years since professionalization that neither Kolonial or Nomadik have lifted a trophy. Divtas couldn’t keep it up the next year, however, after losing some good players to Nomadik and Kolonial and seeing other teams catch up to them tactically. They would be back before the end of the decade, however, winning another league in 1967, but they were about to experience a decline.

The late 60s and 70s marked a period of total domination in the league by Kolonial, as they ran rampant each and every year. Divtasvuodno had managed to fill in the spot left by Nomadik’s struggles, and they did so to a degree in the early 70s, coming 2nd 4 straight years. But they were well off Kolonial’s pace, and when Nomadik recovered a bit in the mid 70s, Divtas’ chance to take their place permanently was gone. The Bears would take a Cup win in 1976, an upset win over Kolonial in the semi-final before defeating FJ Varis Skaidi in the final, but that was all to be said.

The 80s saw a resurgence from Divtas as Nomadik struggled again, often battling with FJ Girona for relevance. A Cup final win over Nomadik in 1985 served to re-ignite that particular rivalry, which would set-up for a true conflict in the 90s.

FJ Gaivuotna’s back-to-back championships in 1990-91 proved that the league was still up for grabs, it wasn’t simply Kolonial’s property each and every year. That inspired new belief in clubs such as Divtas, who were looking at a 30 year title drought at this point. The 1993 season saw Divtas reach the Cup semifinal before losing to Nomadik in controversy: supporters will tell you till this day that Nomadik captain Rosen Jorge should have been sent off and a penalty given to Divtas, but it was not to be. Divtas also finished runners-up in the league, 7 points back of Kolonial. When Nomadik dominated the league in the late 90s, it was often Divtas who competed with them the most, as Kolonial looked to recharge their squad. It was a fiesty rivalry, with the two clubs brawling on the pitch twice in that era. Still, however, Divtas came away empty handed.

The title drought continued into the 2000s, and by the beginning of the 2011 campaign, Divtas were 44 years removed from their last league title. What would follow was a magical season for their supporters, however, with a squad not expected to be in the running for the title surprising everyone. They defeated Kolonial and Nomadik thrice each, and ended up besting Nomadik by 2 points to capture their 5th league title. There were great celebrations after that famous victory, supporters tearing up in joy at the drought being over. With a new era of Raidodassi football beginning, Divtas supporters will hope that they’ll be celebrating again soon.

Club Overview: Divtasvuodno as a town is quite different to other settlements in Sankt Konrad. You’ve got Wilhelmstadt, the bustling port and centre of pretty much everything in our country. Then there’s Girona, Deatnu and the several other towns but along the coastline. Divtasvuodno, however, is located inland, a centre for Albmoti nomads throughout the centuries before developing into a town of its own. Where other towns on Sankt Konrad are more laid back, Divtasvuodno is a bit more bustling, with a character typical of a city much larger: everyone has somewhere to be.

That character has transferred over to the club, a bit, as well. They were quick to support the professionalization of the league, viewing it as the main route for themselves to compete at the top. Divtasvuodno sides have characteristically been pretty direct: no time to waste looking pretty, let’s score goals and get the job done. While that helped the club achieve success early in their history, you could also argue it held them back during the title drought, as new tactical advances often saw Divtas left a bit behind. To their credit, however, Divtas have always been challengers at the top, never really experiencing a true decline in fortunes.

The club are often referred to as the Bears, thanks to the polar bear pictured on their crest. There is a polar bear population that lives close to Divtasvuodno, and the animal has been adopted as a symbol for the town and club. There is a competitive rivalry with Nomadik, the two clubs representing an opposite in styles as well as being competitors for success in the past. FJ Girona is another rival, a constant competitor for the role of lead underdog in the league. Of course, they hate Kolonial too, but Divtas are one of the few clubs that might just hate Nomadik a little bit more.

Fanbase: The fans of Divtasvuodno are well-known for sticking with their team through thick and thin, even throughout their long title drought. Fans of smaller clubs might say that at least they’d won titles, but Divtas had managed to throw away chances spectacularly at times. No matter the crushing loss, however, Bears fans would be back next week, home or away.

Divtasvuodno’s fanbase stays out of the type of political fandom seen at Kolonial and Nomadik, however, there is a great deal of civic pride involved. For every stereotype of residents of Divtas being cold and distant, they really do get behind this team. On matchday, the streets will be empty during the game, and local businesses often close for the 2 hour window, except, of course, for pubs and restaurants. The fanbase appreciates players that get the job done, and are more likely to applaud a rough tackle than a great pass. No quarter is given to players from other teams, and those who once played for Divtas but later joined Nomadik or Kolonial can expect to be heavily jeered for the rest of their careers. They know they can’t compete with the big 2 every year, but don’t want to be a stepping stone either.

Divtasvuodno have a reputation for being a tough place to play away matches, as the support can get quite loud and into the game. Other teams’ players will be jeered every time they touch the ball, particularly Kolonial or Nomadik players. Song wise, the club’s anthem is ‘Divtas the Bold,’ with club-adapted lyrics added to a tune common in the country. The fans aren’t renowned for their creativity, with most chants something along the lines of ‘Come on Divtas’ or ‘Come on Bears.’ There are no 4-minute renditions of historic songs like you might see at Kolonial or Nomadik, but in a way, the bluntness perfectly fits the club.

[Sankt Konrad]

2020 Raidodassi Season - Preview (Part II)

FJ Gaivuotna
Colours: Purple and white
Stadium: Gaivuotna-Siliju (450)
Manager: Elias Lemet (Former youth director at the club, is flexible tactically and adjusts based on his team’s needs. Quiet in the press.)
Nicknames: The Seals, The Conquerors (1990-91 side only)
Status: Professional

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): GK - Migos Joel (27); LB - Ealja (24), CB - Leaifa Nilan (25), CB - Heike Ola (21), RB - Jorgen (24); CM - Bierill (25) (cap), CM - Mellet Milot (24), LW - Duongi (26), CAM - Oavan (27), RW - Siigur (22); CF - Indu Herko (24)

Season Preview: Gaivuotna don’t have it in them to win the league this year. That was probably obvious, but we just wanted to be clear. However, they do have it in them to have a strong campaign anyways and challenge for a top 4 place, which will likely be very important in determining IFCF qualification. Gaivuotna’s strength lies in its midfield, with the duo of Bierill and Mellet Milot difficult to play against even for the likes of Kolonial and Nomadik. Bierill in particular is an excellent holding midfielder, who could’ve joined Nomadik last season but opted to stay with his hometown team for another campaign. Siigur has attracted a lot of attention out on the right wing, a speedy player capable of beating most defenders. Indu Herko hasn’t turned out quite as well as the Seals once hoped of him, but he’s still serviceable in this league and is still young enough that there’s a chance he does reach his potential. Leaifa Nilan and Heike Ola are a strong centre back partnership, Leaifa Nilan in particular tough to beat in the air. Gaivuotna are a decent team, and have the potential to become a good team in the near future if things go their way.

League Titles: 2 (1990, 1991)
Cup Wins: 2 (1930, 1990)

History: Gaivuotna, the southernmost town on Sankt Konrad, had always been a football hotbed, and thus it came as no surprise when FJ Gaivuotna were founded to compete in the Raidodassi in 1922. Gaivuotna, a town mainly populated by Albmoti people setting down from the nomadic lifestyle, was initially capable of supporting the team with entirely homegrown players. They were quickly able to compete for league titles in the early years, but always found themselves bridesmaids to the big 2.

In 1925, when the league debated professionalization, Gaivuotna’s members were torn down the middle. Some wanted to go along with the new order along with Kolonial and Nomadik, but others wanted to stick with the club’s tradition. In the end, Gaivuotna voted to remain an amateur club, siding with FK Wilhelmstadt and Hafenarbeiter in the debate. The amateur side lost out, however, and only through arguing that the club had been competitive with Kolonial and Nomadik were they granted membership in the Raidodassi. They were told, however, that they needed to become professional within 10 years.

The club struggled to adapt to the new system, seeing more and more of their homegrown talent leave to go play for pro clubs and make more money. The 1930 season, however, gave Gaivuotna a magic moment. They knocked out Divtasvuodno in the semifinals before facing off against Kolonial in the Cup final, winning the game 2-0 through a defensive masterclass. That Gaivuotna side would be the final amateur team to win the SKFA Cup. Gaivuotna became fully professional in 1934, one year before the Raidodassi’s deadline.

It was a period of many, many years in the wilderness, however, for the Seals. They bounced between divisions throughout the 40s, 50s and 60s, surging briefly in the 70s before falling back again. In 1978, they were bought by a local businessman, and things began to change. The new ownership brought back the club’s old values of developing talent from its own area, and heavily invested in youth and training facilities to facilitate this. Soon, Gaivuotna became a desired destination for youth players from all areas of the island. A golden generation was brewing.

The 1990 season stands as one of the most important in the Raidodassi’s history. At that time, Kolonial had captured 16 titles in 20 years, absolutely dominating the league. There was a genuine worry that the final table would always read 1. Kolonial each year, and that every other team would simply compete for the scraps. Introducing new purple kits for the year (previous colours included anything on the rainbow, including eras of yellow, red, pink and neon green), and with a starting XI made up of 9 players from the town of Gaivuotna itself, the Seals took the league by storm. An opening-day 4-1 win over Kolonial set the tone, and Gaivuotna would almost never look back as they took the league title. They also defeated Nomadik in the SKFA Cup final to become the first club outside the big 2 to complete a league and Cup double since professionalization. Gaivuotna proved there was still a way to win in this league, and that any club, given the proper method and investments, could eventually knock off Kolonial and Nomadik. Gaivuotna’s dream team earned another league title in 1991, this time chasing Kolonial for most of the year before winning their last 6 in a row, including away to Kolonial, to take the title back-to-back years.

Purple became the permanent colour of the club after that, and the team that had for so many years lacked an identity now had one forever. Fans of the club will refer to that early 90s side as ‘the Conquerors,’ for their takeover of the league. FJ Gaivuotna changed the league forever, as more and more clubs began investment in youth and developing their own club identities. Since then, the league has become much more balanced, and Kolonial no longer have a strangle-hold on the title.

While FJ Gaivuotna have not won a major trophy since the triumph of 1991, they have become a permanent part of the pack directly below the big 2, and have retained their ability to punch above their weight. They always seem to have a role to play, and with a strong crop of youth players coming through at the moment, that role might be about to get a lot bigger.

Club Information: Gaivuotna as a town is hard to define, and that may have led to its club’s long identity crisis. For many years, Gaivuotna was simply a winter encampment for nomads, and it was even abandoned for some years. Once the nomads began to settle down due to the government’s policies of the early 1900s directed at rebuilding national culture, Gaivuotna became a popular landing spot, the town located on the south coast, and a bit sheltered from some of the harsh weather other parts of the country can face in the winter.

As the only town on the south coast, a real ‘do it ourselves’ mentality grew in the town, and that did carry over to the football club. Gaivuotna came to oppose professionalization in 1925, then went out and became the final amateur club to win the Cup 5 years after. In the end, they only turned pro after the Raidodassi board threatened that the club would be expelled from the league if they did not. This contributed to the mentality of us against the world at the club.

For many years, however, this was the only defining characteristic. Gaivuotna sides of the 50s and 60s were downright dreadful, as they brought any player willing to play for them in and abandoned their historical devotion to local talent. One match in the late 60s recorded an attendance of exactly 0, and interest in the club was low throughout the 70s even as things improved somewhat. A local consortium, however, saved the club and brought it back to its roots in the early 1980s, which culminated in the title wins. Today, FJ Gaivuotna are an institution in their community, and have captivated the town.

The club went through various identities in its history. The original kit was entirely blue, at one point adding a green stripe. In the 50s Gaivuotna played in pink, but this was hated by fans. In a period of five years, the club went from pink to yellow to red and a truly abhorrent shade of neon green before going back to blue. The pink reappeared in the late 70s, but new ownership were quick to try and get a new identity. Blue was the colour again for much of the 80s, but it was deemed too similar to Nomadik’s shade of blue. In 1990, a new purple kit was debuted. It became an instant hit with fans, and became immortalized when the club won the league that season.

Gaivuotna’s biggest rivals are the big 2, Kolonial and Nomadik. Nomadik are the traditional enemy, but it is much less heated than Nomadik’s rivalries with Girona and Divtasvuodno. Gaivuotna fans want to beat Nomadik desperately, and dislike the fact that Nomadik have been able to take players from them in the past. However, Gaivuotna fans still prefer them to Kolonial. The Kolonial rivalry stems from Kolonial’s insistence that Gaivuotna professionalize, even going so far as to officially protest the result of the 1930 SKFA Cup final and demand a replay, arguing several Gaivuotna players were ineligible. The request was declined by the SKFA, but the hate remained for Gaivuotna fans. Kolonial are despised by Gaivuotna, not for anything political like the Kolonial-Nomadik rivalry but simply this history of being disregarded by Kolonial. For many Gaivuotna fans, the best part of 1990 wasn’t winning the league, but was instead beating Kolonial 5 times between league and Cup fixtures. The Gaivuotna board even retains this rivalry, refusing to sell players to Kolonial. Even Nomadik and Kolonial have done business in the past, but Gaivuotna refuse. Matches between the two are always heated, and despite Kolonial fans claiming they don’t care about Gaivuotna, the passion is always present.

Fanbase: Gaivuotna’s fans were, for a long time, derided as fickle, but much of that comes down to the club’s incompetence for much of its history. Kolonial fans in particular love to bring up the 0 attendance game in the mid-60s, but those days are long gone and Gaivuotna are one of the best-supported teams in the league.

Gaivuotna’s fans can devolve into some of the politicization of the Big 2 when it comes to their matches against Kolonial, attacking the club in any way they can. This was a bigger thing in the 70s and 80s, when Gaivuotna supporters didn’t have much to cheer on the pitch. In one particular famous incident, Gaivuotna fans burned a large Teus imperial flag in their section, causing Kolonial supporters to storm into the away end and spark a brawl. Since the 90s, however, this blemish has died away for the most part, and while some extremists will ‘have a go’ when Kolonial come to town, today the focus is more on football, with a few exceptions.

Gaivuotna’s fans travel well, usually filling up their away allocation, and have a long songbook, much of which is just popular music from the 60s and 70s. When your team is getting pumped almost every away day, there’s not much else to sing about. The two most famous songs are ‘The 1930 Boys,’ about the 1930 Cup winning squad, and ‘Conquerors,’ the anthem dedicated to the 1990-91 squads. ‘Conquerors’ is usually used particularly to rile up Kolonial, with fans adding a chant of ‘F*** the Kaiser’ at the end of the song. That particular refrain, commonly heard from Nomadik fans as well, is another favourite of the club’s supporters. Another common anti-Kolonial chant is ‘We knocked the fischers off their perch,’ a reference to Gaivuotna’s titles marking the end of Kolonial’s total dominance. Other chants directed at clubs other than the big 2 usually reference Gaivuotna’s success over them, a particular favourite being: ‘We’ve got a double, haven’t you?’

Gaivuotna fans have shedded their reputation for not caring about the club, and instead are seen as some of the best fans in the league today.

GS Deatnu
Colours: Black and white
Stadium: Deatnu-Siliju (750)
Manager: Oge (favours defensive football, reluctant to trust youth, attempts to avoid the press)
Nicknames: The Hammers, the Puffins
Status: Professional

Starting XI (4-4-2): GK - Speaidna (19); LB - Dearsu (24), CB - Bancu (27), CB - Ovlin (24), RB - Jagat (23); LM - Morten Eiven (24), CM - Joel (24), CM - Benne (22), RM - Ertno Viktor (26); CF - Bannos (22), CF - Njugul (31) (cap)

Season Preview: The Hammers have struggled for a few years in the league now, but there are promising signs for the future if they can keep this group of players together. Speaidna is the hottest prospect on the team, a strong goalkeeper who projects as a future #1 for the national team. Jagat is a promising right back, who Kolonial have an interest in: his crossing is up there amongst the best in the division. Joel and Benne have formed a decent partnership in midfield. Up front, Njugul was integral in the Cup win 3 years ago, but is looking to pass off now to Bannos, a quality prospect of his own. Bannos has a strong shot on him, and could be one to watch this year.

League Titles: 1 (1959)
Cup Wins: 3 (1940, 1945, 2017)

History: Deatnu as a town had never adopted football as a common sport. The spiritual capital of the Albmoti people, for the most part the town only competed in handball leagues. In 1923, however, members of the local GS athletic association decided to expand their operation to include football, and GS Deatnu was born. The club were firmly on the side of Kolonial and Nomadik during the professionalization debates, having already gone pro on the handball side of things a few years prior.

GS Deatnu struggled, however, to adapt in the new league. Football was mostly seen as an activity for the club’s handball players to keep fit in the summer months, and the club languished in the second tier for most of the 30s. In 1938, however, the club decided that it was a poor mark on them to have the main football club of the 3rd biggest town in the country be a national joke. Investment followed, and new players were brought in.

Immediate success followed, with the club capturing their first SKFA Cup title in 1940. Early 1940s GS Deatnu sides regularly competed at the top of the league, finishing 2nd place in 1942 by only 2 points. Another Cup triumph would follow in 1945, but things fell apart for Deatnu after that. Most of the players that had been a part of the squads that had achieved success either retired or were past their prime, and the club faded back in obscurity in the late 40s. Investment in the early 50s was most often a failure, and GS Deatnu were in risk of permanent obscurity.

Smart purchases after the 1958 season saw Deatnu assemble an all-star squad of players who had starred for clubs other than Kolonial and Nomadik. Luckily for the club, everything gelled together, and they captured their first and only league title on the final day, beating Divtasvuodno 4-2 to secure the title by 3 points over Nomadik.

That generation of players competed at the top for another few seasons before going their separate ways, but were unable to win any other silverware. Complacency set in with the ownership, believing they could simply mix-match players and it would work, because it did in 1959. This mentality held the club back for many years, and lasted into the late 1970s. Deatnu fell further and further behind at this time, becoming the poster child for big spending not necessarily working out. There was a lack of patience at this time, with the average player only last a year and a half at the club. The Hammers also went through 6 managers in 4 years at one point.

In the 1980s, a new campaign was created to bring greater stability to the club. The scouting department was much better-funded, as were the club’s training facilities. The club were promoted from the second tier in 1987, and have not been relegated since, now able to compete at the highest level.

While Deatnu have not won a league title since 1959, they were able to end the longest trophyless drought in the league in a magical 2017 Cup campaign. Going down 3-0 in the away leg against Kolonial, they managed to come back to win at home 3-0 before taking the tie on penalties, heading to the final against Nomadik. Deatnu would win that one 5-3 in a wide-open contest, taking home their first trophy in 58 years and first Cup win since 1945.

Deatnu are in interesting positioning for the future: not a traditional middleweight, but with the potential to be much more. They are certainly a club to watch.

Club Overview: Founded as the football department to a handball club, GS Deatnu struggled with identity in their earliest years. Deatnu is the oldest Albmoti town on Sankt Konrad, and served as a spiritual centre through the centuries, with temples still dedicated to the old gods today. It has been described as the ‘spiritual capital’ of the Albmoti people, and rose to become the 3rd largest town on the island.

The traditionalists in Deatnu, however, saw football as something foreign, brought over by the Teus. Handball, historically the game of the Albmoti, was much preferred. Over time, this idea generally fell away, but even today the Deatnu handball section is more successful and more popular than the football section.

Deatnu is located on the east coast of the country. The club’s nickname is the Hammers, which comes from the hammer present on their logo. This hammer, a design of that of Horagalles, the Albmoti God of Thunder, is also on the town of Deatnu’s coat of arms, as the main temple in the town is dedicated to Horagalles. The club are also known as the puffins due to their black and white kits, puffin colonies being common in the area around Deatnu as well.

The main rivalry is with FC Sankt Leopold, who are the closest town on the east coast to Deatnu. It also brings about elements of Teus vs Albmoti rivalries, but nowhere near as intense as the Kolonial-Nomadik rivalry. This rivalry has usually mainly been about the two towns, Deatnu the historic, traditional capital vs Sankt Leopold, the newer town built by Teus migrants. It’s also about football, as the two clubs have been on a similar level for most of their history.
In addition, Deatnu aren’t the biggest fans of Kolonial, and have a hatred for Nomadik. People in Deatnu hate Wilhelmstadt in general, seeing as the two towns were competing to be named capital of the independent country in 1896.

Fanbase: Deatnu have a loyal following from their fanbase, although it isn’t as big as any of the major clubs. In addition, a decent amount of the population of the town supports Nomadik, as the biggest Albmoti club in the league. Deatnu fans are known for their devotion to the team, even through all the ups and downs they’ve experienced in recent years.

Deatnu fans hate Sankt Leopold the most, as the local rivals, with Nomadik a close second. The East Coast Derby is decently heated, perhaps not to the level of rivalries like Kolonial-Nomadik, Nomadik-Divtasvuodno or Kolonial-Gaivuotna, but heated nonetheless. Deatnu fans will taunt their rivals with chants of ‘You’re just Kolonial B,’ a reference to Sankt Leopold’s close friendship with Kolonial. There’s also a chant of ‘Stand up if you’ve won the league,’ as Sankt Leopold have never won the Raidodassi title.

Other songs include ‘Deatnu, Hey!,’ the common anthem of the town’s sports teams. Some traditional old Albmoti songs have made their way into the fans’ songbook as well, but for the most part Deatnu fans will sing about their club or the match. Deatnu fans are the type who appreciate skill, and have given applause to visiting players who put in a particularly great performance in the past. Deatnu supporters are loyal, but they aren’t like Divtasvuodno who jeer every single opposing player.

Deatnu’s fans are respected for their loyalty to the club and team no matter what, and are an example for clubs across the league.

FC Sankt Leopold
Colours: Black and gold
Stadium: Klippenrand (300)
Manager: Klemens Bischoff (very attack-minded manager, willing to give young players first-team opportunities, talkative in media but not hostile)
Nicknames: The Eagles, Schwarz und Geld, Kolonial B (derogatory)
Status: Professional

Starting XI (4-4-2): GK - Moritz Prantl (27); LB - Erhardt Altermann (24), CB - Per Scholl (22), CB - Ingo Stahl (25), RB - Arne Glockner (21); LM - Eric Hauer (28), CM - Indu (31), CM - Darbmu Gradl (18), RM - Carl Weis (26) (cap); CF - Rudolf Klempner (24), CF - Lagon (25)

Season Preview: Last year was a rough one for Sankt Leopold, as they managed to avoid the drop by just 2 points. But the Eagles should take a step forward this year, with players like Per Scholl and Darbmu Gradl expecting to take a step forward this year. Those two are the brightest lights on this team, Scholl considered a very good ball-moving defender. Gradl has a great deal of technical skill as well. Up front, Klempner and Lagon are a decent partnership. Sankt Leopold don’t have the quality to compete at the top, but they could perhaps be a surprise package to challenge for 4th and also make a Cup run.

League Titles: 0
Cup Wins: 4 (1939, 1961, 1988, 2007)[/b]

History: Football has been played in Sankt Leopold ever since the town came into existence, perched on a cliff above the sea on the east coast of Sankt Konrad. Founded as a summer resort town for ANG company workers from Wilhelmstadt, the first club in the town was actually the amateur ANG-Mannschaft for those company workers. This club was very successful in its day, winning 3 league titles and 2 cups in the early 1920s. FC Sankt Leopold was founded in 1924 for those who lived in the town and were not employed by ANG, and after the ANG-Mannschaft folded in 1925 due to the professionalization debates, the Eagles became the only show in town.

Sankt Leopold took the side of Kolonial and Nomadik in the debates, which ended up allowing them to become one of the first members of the Raidodassi. The club didn’t have much early success in the league, being more of a ‘Cup team’, reaching the final 3 years in a row from 1937-39. While the first two finals were losses, they defeated Nomadik 2-1 in the 1939 SKFA Cup Final to win their first piece of silverware.

That tradition of going all-out in the Cup would continue, as the club quickly became a regular in at least the semi-final stage, losing 4 finals between 1939 and 1961, the time of their second triumph. That was a 4-3 win over Divtasvuodno to deny them a double, after also having a strong season in the league, finishing 3rd. Years in the wilderness followed, however, and the club languished in the second division for most of the 1970s and early 80s.

The club returned to their roots in the 1988 season, the class of the Silbadassi as they stormed their way to an undefeated season and promotion. In addition, they defeated FJ Girona 4-1 in the two-legged semifinal to advance to a Cup final where they were heavy underdogs against Kolonial. The Eagles shocked everyone, however, and won the final 2-1 for their first Cup in 27 years.

Sankt Leopold were inspired by that win, and have spent the majority of their time since then in the top division. Another Cup win would come in 2007, as the Eagles beat Nomadik in the final. Usually mediocre in the league, Sankt Leopold are a team none will take lightly in the Cup.

Club Overview: Sankt Leopold has been voted several times the nicest town on Sankt Konrad, located on a cliff overlooking the ocean on the east coast. It has usually served as a summer resort, and the population swells in June and July, but there is a permanent population, about 60% Teus and 40% Albmoti.

Sankt Leopold is, thus, a decently laid-back town, and the club has followed that tradition as well, never showing too much ambition and happy with their lot in life. Football-wise, the club has traditionally focused on attacking football, but in recent years have developed a few prospects.

The biggest local rival is GS Deatnu, with whom the club contest the East Coast derby. This is the fiercest rivalry for Sankt Leopold, with the two towns separated by only about 30 minutes along the National Ring Road. This is a rivalry based on proximity and football-related reasons. Sankt Anna, a village about 40 minutes further south, is another rival, but FC Sankt Anna have been in the second tier for most of their existence. Kolonial are an ally, the two clubs sharing a similar cultural background. For that reason, Sankt Leopold also harbour a fierce dislike of Nomadik.

Fanbase: Sankt Leopold’s fanbase are considered quite loyal to the club, and that has always been the case throughout the club’s history. The Albmoti population of the town usually supports Nomadik, while the Teus are all-in on the Eagles.

Historically, the club have had a close relationship with Kolonial, and many season ticket holders at Sankt Leopold will also make the trip over to Wilhelmstadt for a few matches per year. Sankt Leopold fans will also fly the Teus imperial flag, but it’s less common than at Kolonial, and for the most part the club aren’t involved in some of the politicization of football that goes on elsewhere. This relationship has led to derision from other club’s fans, however, often referring to them as ‘Kolonial B,’ or accusing them of caring more about Kolonial than their own club.

The club are nicknamed the Eagles, from a newspaper article about the 1939 Cup winning side describing them as ‘soaring like eagles’ in the final match against Nomadik. Other nicknames are the schwarz und geld, black and gold, based off of the colours of the club’s kit. The club crest taken from the town of Sankt Leopold’s crest, with the writing of ‘FC Sankt Leopold’ and 1924, the year of the club’s founding, added.

Sankt Leopold fans often sound similar to Kolonial in song. Many of the classic traditional Teus songs sung at Der Hafen are also heard at Klippenrand, a particular favourite being ‘Soldier of Teusland’ as well. As mentioned, however, Sankt Leopold are less prone to the devotion to the old Empire seen at Kolonial: you won’t hear anything about the Kaisers here, and beyond a bit of flag-waving the fan culture here is quite different. There are songs honouring each of the four Cup-winning sides, the 1988 one being a particular favourite of the fanbase. Fans here respect gritty, hardworking players and those who leave it all out on the pitch are sure to become fan favourites rather quickly.

FJ Varis Skaidi
Colours: Red and white
Stadium: Skaidi-Stadion (300)
Manager: Eljes Viktor (young manager, adept at tactical adjustments, has faced criticism for not being as good at man-management.)
Nicknames: The Reds, Varis
Status: Semi-professional

Starting XI (4-3-2-1): GK - Bavlos (24); LB - Anot (25), CB - Nuvtte (22), CB - Larsa (26), RB - Holger Riibma (21); CDM - Danel (27) (cap), CM - Laras (25), CM - Ertno (24); LW - Marten Indu (22), RW - Ovlin Elias (22); CF - Behtter (28)

Season Preview: It could be a long season for the Reds. The only semi-pro club, they earned promotion to the top division thanks to a win in the Silbadassi last year. Behtter was key to that as the semi-pro outfit took the title thanks to a league-leading goals for total. This year, they’re shaping up to be a bit more defensive, Danel dropping back in the midfield. Bavlos was solid last season in goal, there are rumours a pro club may come in for him this offseason. Overall, Varis should be quite a ways off the pace of the rest of the league and will be fighting relegation. If they get lucky, however, they could pull off an escape and reach 7th position. It will require career years from many players, however, and there’s a decent chance Varis will be heading straight back down.

League Titles: 0
Cup Wins: 0

History: FJ Varis Skaidi are the youngest club in the league, being founded in 1944. Varis is the national organization for reindeer breeders in Sankt Konrad, with lodges in every single town and village on the island. In Skaidi, lying between Girona and Wilhelmstadt on the Ring Road, the Varis club also operates recreational sporting activities for its members. Gradually, this developed into a semi-pro football side, and the club earned league membership in 1944.

Refusing to ever turn fully pro due to the fact that Varis must remain, technically, a non-profit organization, the Reds have still had several decent players come through their ranks over the years. Semi-pro clubs in Sankt Konrad often stay that way out of choice, and thus when they get a golden generation every so often can make some noise. Varis reached the SKFA Cup final in 1965, losing out to Kolonial in extra time. For the most part, however, they’ve been a fixture of the Silbadassi, never quite having what it takes to stay up full time.

The club also hold the ‘distinction’ of being one of only 4 clubs in the nation to have never won a single trophy. Joining them in this category are fellow semi-pro clubs FC Sankt Anna, Guovdageidnu, and Varis Deatnu (also a club for Varis members). The most memorable season in the club’s history was 1976, when they returned to the top flight after a 9-year absence. That season, Varis managed to give Kolonial a true go in the league, even leading after the first 8 matches. Eventually, however, they did taper off, and Kolonial would win the league. Varis would also reach the SKFA Cup final that year, losing to Divtasvuodno on penalties.

There hasn’t been a Cup final appearance since then, however, and the club have only managed to string together a few top-flight appearances. Second-flight football in Sankt Konrad is a game of timing. There are 8 pro clubs in the country, and when one is relegated from the Raidodassi, it is expected that they will immediately regain promotion. That season thus serves as a rebuild phase for most clubs. The next year, when the second-tier is entirely made up of semi-pro and amateur clubs, each team fights it out with all the strength they can muster. Skaidi have been unlucky in recent years, at one point challenging FC Sankt Leopold quite heavily in a promotion bid, but never quite getting their timing right. This time, however, they come up and will be hoping to make the most of their appearance. A Cup run would be nice, too, for fans who are desperate to see their club lift any silverware.

Club Overview: There’s some debate outside over whether Skaidi should be considered its own town or simply a suburb of Wilhelmstadt, sitting about 20km outside of the capital on the road to Girona. The people of Skaidi itself, however, are fiercely independent, separating themselves from the capital whenever possible.

This mentality has shifted over to the club as well. Many in the town support Nomadik, given its status as the ‘national team’ of the Albmoti. You could likely argue that Varis fans are a minority in their own backyard. However, the fans they do have, many of which come from the countryside, oppose with vigour any attempts for the club to become more like others in the nation: a 2005 proposal for the Varis club to sell the team and allow it to become fully professional was protested by fans as going against club tradition.

The club’s colours are red and white, the colours of the Varis association. Nomadik and Kolonial are viewed as huge matches when the club get the opportunity to play them, particularly Nomadik. Nomadik supporters have a reputation for filling the Skaidi-Stadion in place of the home fans, but the tide has turned in recent years as the younger generation of Skaidi more and more follows the Reds. Rivalry-wise, there’s a friendly rivalry with Varis Deatnu of the second tier, while FC Sankt Anna are seen as competitive rivals due to the club’s relatively similar positions in history.

Fanbase: Skaidi are one of those clubs that have a small fanbase, but that fanbase is devoted to the team. As mentioned, both Kolonial and Nomadik can take over the stadium when playing them, but that is no longer the case for many other teams.

In the late-90s, with Skaidi languishing at the bottom of the second tier and Nomadik dominating the Raidodassi, there was a worry that the younger generation of Skaidi would be lost to Nomadik. Already attendances were declining. The club introduced various programs in the local schools and community, however, including cutting ticket costs, to attract young families to the games and build a new generation of Varis supporters. This was widely effective, the club being, for example, the only club in the league to have a mascot: Ruben the Reindeer. Fears of Skaidi ‘dying out’ are gone, and there is a passionate young base of fans at the club.

The Varis club, in addition to reindeer herding, has served as a cultural institution for Albmoti people on Sankt Konrad, and thus several of its traditional songs and cheers have found their way into Skaidi’s songbook. ‘The Blue-Red Cap’ is a favourite song, detailing the traditional blue and red coloured hat that reindeer herders wear. Other songs, however, are related to football, and the various glorious and tragic moments of the club’s history. ‘1976’ is a chant that tells the story of the 1976 Varis squad, and asks ‘Why can’t every year be like ‘76?’ Varis fans appreciate their players, knowing that many of them could go fully pro but instead choose to stick with Varis. Varis fans particularly like skilled players, a technical midfielder being favoured to them over a grittier player. Once regarded as quiet by most other teams in the league, Skaidi is now considered one of the tougher away days in the second tier, and the Reds supporters will be hoping to keep up that reputation in the Raidodassi.

The 8 clubs of the Silbadassi will also compete this year to earn the promotion spot back up to the Raidodassi. Here are all 8 clubs listed in order of expected finish, with a small blurb about each.

1. Davvenasti: Davvenasti (‘North Star’), the second club from Girona, are heavy favourites to earn promotion this year. The only pro club in the second tier, their offensive firepower should keep them relatively upset-free.

2. FC Sankt Anna: Sankt Anna have a decent squad this year, and might be in the race with Davvenasti, but next year is really their year to push for promotion. Expect them in second place.

3. FJ Jokkohakko: The smallest club in the top divisions by size, Jokkohakko have a young squad who should show signs of life this year after a few years of mediocrity from the older guard. Jokkohakko could be a dark horse next season.

4. Guovdageidnu: A rebuilding season is on the cards here as they move from an older generation to a younger. Still a few years away from really being able to challenge for promotion, don’t expect them to put up much of a fight this year.

5. Varis Deatnu: In a similar situation as Guovdageidnu, don’t expect much from Varis here. They’ll beat out the amateur clubs, but won’t do too much else.

6. FK Wilhelmstadt: 4-time Raidodassi winners Wilhelmstadt haven’t been back to the top flight since committing to amateurism in 1925. That won’t change this year either. They have the best squad of the bottom 3 amateur teams, but it’s not enough to get any higher. As the only amateur club that keeps a squad year to year, Wilhelmstadt should have no trouble getting to 6th.

7. Poliisa: The club for the Sankt Konrad Police Service, another who committed to amateurism at the 1925 split, will likely finish either 7th or 8th: toss up between them and Hafenarbeiter. Then again, Poliisa have surprised in the past, as no-one really knows who will make up their squad each year given they select a new team based on open tryouts each year. 1-time SKFA Cup winners in 1917

8. Hafenarbeiter: Another team that picks players from open trials each year amongst members of the Dock Workers’ Association. They’ll finish 7th or 8th. Hafenarbeiter were the last amateur club to win the league in 1924.

The Raidodassi season is about to begin, and Radio Sankt Konrad will bring you full coverage of the entire season from start to finish! Who will take the title, the Cup, and the all-important IFCF slots? The answers are coming shortly.

[Sankt Konrad]

2020 Raidodassi Season - Part I

We’re ready to go on the Raidodassi season! Will Kolonial capture their 47th title? Will Nomadik climb back to the top? Or will an outsider make some noise? The moment of truth is here.

Matchday 1

FJ Varis Skaidi 0–1 FJ Gaivuotna
Nomadik 1–0 FC Sankt Leopold
Kolonial 4–1 Divtasvuodno
FJ Girona 3–1 GS Deatnu

FJ Varis Skaidi hosted FJ Gaivuotna in the opening match of the season. It turned out to be a relatively boring affair, with the home side not offering too much in the way of attacking. Gaivuotna struggled to get going for most of the first half, however, trying to exploit the width and having it just not work out. Eventually, however, they did break through, and Indu Herko grabbed the winning goal. In the capital, Nomadik played host to FC Sankt Leopold. The Nomads struggled through the early stages of the match, Sankt Leopold defending well, but eventually managed to take control of the match. Aksel scored a great finish from long range for the only goal of the game. Across town, Kolonial had no trouble dispatching Divtasvuodno, taking a 4-1 win over the visiting Bears. Lavo scored just 7 minutes in, and the parade would continue for the Pioneers. Timo Hackl had two, while Iskko would add a late goal to make it 4. Divtas won’t be happy with the result, and have some reflection to do before week 2. Girona also managed to win on week one, having no trouble dominating the midfield against Deatnu. Sappa had 3 assists for the home Skyblues, while Bannos started the year ok for Deatnu with a great strike from distance for the Hammers only goal of the game.

Matchday 2

FJ Gaivuotna 3–0 GS Deatnu
Divtasvuodno 1–2 FJ Girona
FC Sankt Leopold 0–1 Kolonial
FJ Varis Skaidi 1–4 Nomadik

Deatnu aren’t having the best start to the season. They didn’t look good against Girona, and arguably looked worse today against FJ Gaivuotna. Gaivuotna ran rampant, wingers Duongi and Siigur absolutely dominating the Deatnu fullbacks. Jagat in particular had a rough start. Duongi would get the first goal for the home side, which opened things up and saw Gaivuotna taking a 3-0 lead before the half. In Divtasvuodno, it was an important early-season clash between Divtas and FJ Girona. The two sides were largely even for much of the match, with Girona taking a lead just after halftime through Simit. The Bears equalized at the death, making their fans think they’d taken a point, but Simit then earned his own penalty and converted to give Girona a controversial win. Kolonial faced Sankt Leopold, and the match was pretty much a walk in the park for the Pioneers. A friendly crowd, and friendly weather (a cool spring day) allowed Kolonial to take an early 1-0 lead. It could’ve been more, but Kolonial simply didn’t feel a need to do so. Nomadik, meanwhile, also had a friendly crowd, and used it to their advantage to smash Varis Skaidi. Elias Nilse scored twice in the first half to open things up, and the Nomads would eventually take a 4-1 win away from the Skaidi-Stadion.

SKFA Cup First Round - First Leg

Guovdageidnu 1–0 FJ Jokkohakko
FK Wilhelmstadt 1–4 Kolonial
Poliisa 0–2 Nomadik
Davvenasti 1–1 FJ Gaivuotna
GS Deatnu 2–1 Divtasvuodno
FJ Girona 4–1 FJ Varis Skaidi
Varis Deatnu 0–1 Hafenarbeiter
FC Sankt Anna 0–1 FC Sankt Leopold

No trouble for the majority of Raidodassi squads. Kolonial and Nomadik were both drawn against amateur sides, Nomadik choosing to field a squad of players entirely under the age of 20 in their 2-0 win over Poliisa. Kolonial, meanwhile, have a bit of a rivalry with Wilhelmstadt and decided to field 2 first-teamers, Timo Hackl scoring all four goals in the 4-1 first leg win. Davvenasti held FJ Gaivuotna to a 1-1 draw, while GS Deatnu managed to get a good home win over Divtas, taking a 2-1 lead into the second leg. Meanwhile, FJ Girona smashed Varis Skaidi, who are clearly in trouble in the top flight: they didn’t look anywhere near Girona’s level in this Cup tie. FC Sankt Leopold also gained a 1-0 win over Sankt Anna, heading home with the advantage for the second leg. Guovdageidnu beat Jokkohakko 1-0 in a second-tier matchup, while there’s a possible upset in the making: amateur Hafenarbeiter defeated Varis Deatnu 1-0, and will head home with an advantage in the tie. The second leg fixtures will be played after matchday 3.

Matchday 3

Nomadik 4–1 FJ Gaivuotna
Kolonial 0–0 FJ Varis Skaidi
FJ Girona 3–3 FC Sankt Leopold
GS Deatnu 0–3 Divtasvuodno

Nomadik now go top of the league after 3 matches thanks to a big win over Gaivuotna. Gaivuotna hung on in the first half, actually going into the break level 1-1. They had been able to hold off Nomadik’s midfield in the first half, but it wasn’t to be in the second. A renewed burst of energy for the home side gave them the advantage, and they roared to a 4-1 victory. Meanwhile, Kolonial struggled to finish against Varis Skaidi. Varis offered pretty much nothing going forward, and Kolonial were left extremely frustrated: Timo Hackl missed a penalty, prompting his furious manager Horst Prantl to slate him in the postgame presser: “Maybe he shouldn’t have played in the Cup last week, he got his head far too big.” Girona and Sankt Leopold played a back-and-forth affair, ending in a 3-3 draw. Sankt Leopold held the advantage for much of the first half, coming at Girona in waves and taking a 2-0 lead through Lagon. Girona would peg them back, however, making it 2-2 by the 60th minute. Girona held the advantage in all areas of the pitch, having adjusted their formation to be more attacking. They took a lead in the 80th minute, but determination from the visiting Eagles enabled them to grab one final goal to even things out. Divtasvuodno, meanwhile, smashed Deatnu 3-0. The midfield of Riibma, Nuhtte and Marten owned the midfield, while right back Rastos torched Deatnu the entire match. The Hammers are in trouble, 0-0-3 and outscored 10-1 in those games. It might be a long season for GS Deatnu.

SKFA Cup First Round - Second Leg

FJ Jokkohakko 1–0 Guovdageidnu (Jokkohakko win 2-0 A.E.T, 2-1 agg.)
Kolonial 3–1 FK Wilhelmstadt (Kolonial win 7-2 agg.)
Nomadik 5–0 Poliisa (Nomadik win 7-0 agg.)
FJ Gaivuotna 1–0 Davvenasti (FJ Gaivuotna win 2-1 agg.)
Divtasvuodno 2–1 GS Deatnu (Divtasvuodno win 3-1 A.E.T, 4-3 agg.)
FJ Varis Skaidi 1–0 FJ Girona (FJ Girona win 4-2 agg.)
Hafenarbeiter 0–1 Varis Deatnu (Varis Deatnu win 2-0 A.E.T, 2-1 agg.)
FC Sankt Leopold 0–1 FC Sankt Anna (1-1 A.E.T, FC Sankt Leopold win 2-1 agg.)

FJ Jokkohakko managed to turn around their first leg defeat to Guovdageidnu, winning 1-0 in 90 minutes then scoring once more in extra time to take the tie 2-1 on aggregate. Kolonial fielded their youth players this time against Wilhelmstadt, winning 3-1 to easily finish off the tie and advance. Nomadik, meanwhile, beat up on Poliisa, taking the match 5-0. They put out the big guns, giving Poliisa’s amateurs a chance to go up against some of the nation’s best. FJ Gaivuotna beat Davvenasti at home, 1-0 the final, to advance as well, while Divtasvuodno required extra time to dispatch GS Deatnu. A backup Girona squad lost 1-0 to Varis Skaidi, yet still advance 4-2 in the tie. Meanwhile, Varis Deatnu avoided an upset by beating Hafenarbeiter 1-0 in normal time, adding a second minutes into extra time to take the tie on aggregate. FC Sankt Anna upset Sankt Leopold to win in normal time 1-0, but extra time would see the Eagles score once more to earn the aggregate win.

The draw for the second round was completed after extra time of the Varis Deatnu-Hafenarbeiter match, and sets up these matches for the second round. Kolonial will take on FJ Gaivuotna, sure to be fireworks in that one. Meanwhile, Divtasvuodno has been drawn against Nomadik, another big rivalry match. FJ Girona, meanwhile, will be facing Varis Deatnu, while FJ Jokkohakko have been drawn against FC Sankt Leopold. The first leg will be played following matchday 10, with the second leg to follow matchday 11.

Matchday 4

FJ Gaivuotna 0–3 Divtasvuodno
FC Sankt Leopold 1–0 GS Deatnu
FJ Varis Skaidi 2–0 FJ Girona
Nomadik 4–3 Kolonial

FJ Gaivuotna were shocked at home by Divtasvuodno, who were relentless in dominating the match. Gaivuotna came into this one expecting a result, but that was perhaps a little naive given Divtasvuodno’s recent form. Divtas would blitz the Seals early, Niba managing two goals just 20 minutes into the match. The Bears would continue to have total control in this one, Niba adding one more for his hat-trick in the later stages. Deatnu’s struggles, meanwhile, continued as they lost 1-0 to Sankt Leopold. Bancu’s performance for Deatnu has come under fire so far this year, the centre back not living up to expectations. There have also been questions of Bannos up front: he has 1 goal in 4 appearances, that standing as the only goal of Deatnu’s campaign so far. Meanwhile, FJ Varis Skaidi pulled off the upset and defeated FJ Girona for the second straight week in all competitions, this time taking a 2-0 win. Skaidi had been even with Girona for much of the first half, before manager Eljes Viktor made an adjustment at halftime, moving Laras further upfield to open up more offensive opportunities. It would work, with Laras ending up with the winning goal.

This week also saw the first clash of Nomadik and Kolonial this season. The Big 2, the New Guard, Der Spiel, whatever you want to call it, there’s nothing quite like this fixture. All the noise and hatred of any major rivalry in world football condensed to a stadium of 2250. Each side was confident going into this one, Kolonial manager Horst Prantl telling the press “It’ll just be like every other time we’ve played them the last few years, a win for us.” Nomadik manager Volbmar Albe, meanwhile, refused to respond: “Horst plays his games, we’ll do our talking on the pitch.” The mood going into this one was split: Kolonial slight favourites, but Nomadik in better form.

The first half began with Nomadik having a great start, Kolonial struggling to handle the pace of Aksel and Elias Nilse on the wings. Nomadik threatened early, a shot from Aksel going just wide, but things were level still after 20 minutes. Kolonial were still having trouble at the back, and Nomadik would rise to exploit that. Aksel beat Migal badly, Migal looking completely out of his depth against the young star. Aksel’s cross was whipped in beautifully, and Morten turned it in to put Nomadik up 1-0. A few minutes later, another mistake from Migal in the box would give Morten a penalty, which he converted to send Nomadik 2-0 up at the half.

In the second half, Kolonial came out with a few changes, looking to put more pressure on Nomadik’s midfield and prevent them from getting the ball out to flanks. Initially, it worked, Iskko taking control of the game. A silky through-ball from Iskko let Lavo loose in the Nomadik box just 5 minutes in, and he would bring Kolonial back to only 1 goal down. It was Nomadik’s turn to tinker now, Volbmar Albe moving Gappe a bit deeper to try and beat the Kolonial press. It worked a trick, Gappe able to avoid Iskko now and continue exploiting the advantage out wide. Aksel scored to make it 3-1, and Gappe himself would add another one a few minutes later to put Nomadik up 4-1. Kolonial gave everything they had in the final minutes, Timo Hackl making it 4-2 before Lavo’s second of the game made it 4-3. Nomadik, however, hung on to a great derby day win.

“We’re 4 games in. I’m not worried in the slightest. We’re better than that, and we’ll show them what we mean at Der Hafen,” said Horst Prantl after the match. Volbmar Albe, for his part, added: “I thought we showed great resilience, to adapt to their changes and come back. Credit to Kolonial, they fought hard at the end, but we hung on. It was a good character win. There’s a long way to go, of course, but I’m positive.” Nomadik’s fans were the happier of the two, naturally, after the win, and the win now has them 5 points clear at the top.

Matchday 5

Kolonial 1–1 FJ Gaivuotna
FJ Girona 1–0 Nomadik
GS Deatnu 1–1 FJ Varis Skaidi
Divtasvuodno 1–1 FC Sankt Leopold

A weird week overall in the Raidodassi. Kolonial looked to get back to winning ways after a difficult few weeks, including last week’s Big 2 loss to Nomadik. They would go up early, Lavo making it 1-0, but Gaivuotna willed themselves back into it late and secured a late equalizer, much to the delight of their travelling supporters. Horst Prantl again slated Timo Hackl in the press after this one, saying “Maybe I should buy another midfielder, as we seem to only have 1 forward anyways.” Kolonial actually managed to gain a point, however, on Nomadik, who followed up their derby win with a 1-0 loss to Girona. Girona had clearly watched the tape of Nomadik’s win the previous week, as they shut down Aksel perfectly and managed to get a goal of their own to nab the surprise win. Two struggling sides managed a draw, Bannos finally scoring after a long drought late to make it 1-1 between Deatnu and Varis Skaidi. Meanwhile, Divtasvuodno were also held to a draw by FC Sankt Leopold. The visiting Eagles looked great in the match, Per Scholl putting in a great performance at the back that will surely put him on Kolonial’s radar. Divtasvuodno saved the draw late with a goal from Joel Simit.

Matchday 6

FJ Gaivuotna 3–4 FC Sankt Leopold
FJ Varis Skaidi 1–6 Divtasvuodno
Nomadik 2–0 GS Deatnu
Kolonial 4–2 FJ Girona

Some important results this week. FC Sankt Leopold continue what’s been a solid patch of form for them lately, getting a 4-3 win over Gaivuotna. Gaivuotna perhaps were not expecting the performance from Sankt Leopold, but they should’ve come out with a bit more intent at home. The Seals were chasing the game almost the entire way, with the Eagles taking a 3-1 lead at halftime. One more goal from the captain Carl Weiss sealed the 4-3 win for Sankt Leopold after a late Gaivuotno surge. Divtasvuodno, meanwhile, continued a great run for them with a massive 6-1 demolition of FJ Varis Skaidi. The Reds just didn’t look up to the task at all, failing even the simplest of passing plays. Skaidi centre back Larsa’s performance was described by a Radio Sankt Konrad commentator as ‘One of the worst I’ve ever seen at this level.’ For Divtasvuodno, it was glory, however, with Niba getting his second hat-trick of the season, Nihkul Jorge getting a brace and a further goal coming from Rasmos, the young right back who has had an excellent season. In the capital, Nomadik handed Deatnu some more pain, beating them 2-0 in a game that wasn’t really close. Aksel assisted twice for Nomadik, while Deatnu fired on no cylinders again. They have only scored 4 times through 7 games, and sit bottom of the table, 4 points back of Skaidi. If this continues, manager Oge’s head could be on the chopping block. Kolonial were in a difficult battle with FJ Girona, the visiting Girona actually led 2-1 at one point. Horst Prantl could be heard yelling at his team in the dressing room, and it seemed to work: Timo Hackl came out with 2 goals. Maybe, for all the rumours of discontent between player and manager, Hackl does need that kick to get going. Either way, Kolonial took the win 4-2 and sit 4 points back of Nomadik in second place.

Matchday 7

FJ Girona 0–0 FJ Gaivuotna
GS Deatnu 2–5 Kolonial
Divtasvuodno 0–0 Nomadik
FC Sankt Leopold 2–1 FJ Varis Skaidi

And we reach the end of the first round of fixtures. It was a tricky day in the Raidodassi, rain falling across the country as the early summer storms hit hard. FJ Girona and FJ Gaivuotna couldn’t muster much between them, the best effort of the game being a shot from Girona’s Simit that went just wide. The only result of 90 minutes, however, was to make the 900 supporters in the stands soaking wet. There was a brief half-hour of sunshine on the north coast during Deatnu’s heavy 5-2 defeat to Kolonial, but rain came down hard during the second half as Kolonial stormed to victory. Deatnu had seemed in control early despite their other struggles, Bannos getting two goals, but it was 2-2 at the half and Kolonial wouldn’t look back, goals from Lavo, Hackl and Iskko getting the visitors a win. Meanwhile, it was a grudge match in Divtasvuodno as the home side played out a rough game with Nomadik. A tackle from Rasmos on Aksel drew great cheers from the home crowd, but greatly upset the visiting Nomads, and a confrontation was nearly avoided on the pitch. Divtasvuodno fans jeered Aksel for the rest of the game, calling him a diver. The home side greatly celebrated their draw, which takes them up to 3rd place in the league, while Nomadik were left with questions unanswered as their advantage over Kolonial slips to 2 points. Sankt Leopold’s win has them up to 4th place now, they’ve been a surprise package so far and that continued with a solid win over Skaidi. Skaidi couldn’t string a pass together in the harsh weather, and the Eagles were able to fly high above them and take a 2-1 win.

Matchday 8

FJ Gaivuotna 2–0 FJ Varis Skaidi
FC Sankt Leopold 1–3 Nomadik
Divtasvuodno 1–0 Kolonial
GS Deatnu 0–1 FJ Girona

Storm season continues here on Sankt Konrad, and this week it was helpful for some clubs. Gaivuotna had had a rough few weeks, but this week they were able to get it together in order to cruise past FJ Varis Skaidi. Skaidi again struggled in the difficult weather, and Gaivuotna ran rampant, Bierill and Mellet Millot helping them control the midfield completely. Two goals from Indu Herko ensured the Seals getting a solid win. Sankt Leopold’s run came to an end this week as Nomadik strengthened their grip on first position. Things were a bit calmer on the east coast this weekend than the rest of the country which faced severe weather, and Nomadik certainly exploited this. Aksel missed this week’s match with a lingering knock picked up last week against Divtasvuodno, and Nomadik adjusted their game plan accordingly, deploying Gappe a bit further forward to exploit Sankt Leopold’s comparative weakness in midfield. It worked a trick, Nomadik scoring all three goals in the first half, as they marched on at the top. Divtasvuodno proved to be a tricky foe again for the big 2, as they defeated Kolonial 1-0 at home under more harsh conditions. It was an extremely hostile environment for the visiting Kolonial, who faced jeers the entire match and also had things thrown at them on the pitch. Divtas played a similar style to their game against Nomadik, shutting down Kolonial’s offensive weapons and hitting them on the counter, Rasmos whipping in a cross that was knocked in by Joel Simit. Deatnu couldn’t get anything started against Girona either, with the visitors knocking one in late to take a 1-0 win and move themselves into a tie for 2nd with Divtasvuodno and Kolonial.

Matchday 9

GS Deatnu 0–1 FJ Gaivuotna
FJ Girona 2–2 Divtasvuodno
Kolonial 2–1 FC Sankt Leopold
Nomadik 1–0 FJ Varis Skaidi

Deatnu continue to struggle in the league, and that’s it for the manager Oge. Ivvar will replace him, given the task of keeping the club up this season: they are currently 4 points back of Varis Skaidi in 8th. Ivvar was a former youth team coach for the club, and has a good relationship with many of the young players in the squad today. Deatnu fans will be hoping for a change in fortunes quickly. Meanwhile, an important clash near the top of the league saw FJ Girona and Divtasvuodno play quite an entertaining match. Divtas played well out from the back, and the right back Rasmos continues to impress. He would get an assist on Divtas’ opener, before Marten knocked in a free kick to put the Bears up 2-0 on the road. They wouldn’t hang on, however, as Girona came out in the second half with a vengeance. Sappa took control from midfield, and he scored and assisted as Girona evened things out to take a point. Kolonial welcomed Sankt Leopold to Der Hafen this weekend, and it was a great opportunity for Kolonial to pick up three points. The Eagles couldn’t get anything going as Kolonial dominated the midfield, Iskko having complete control, while Timo Hackl scored both goals for the home side. Sankt Leopold would get a consolation marker late in the second half. Elsewhere, Nomadik had to fight for it against Varis Skaidi, who put in an admirable performance, but it was simply not to be. Iisku headed in a late goal off an Aksel free kick to make it 1-0 and keep Nomadik at the top of the table.

Matchday 10

FJ Gaivuotna 0–5 Nomadik
FJ Varis Skaidi 0–4 Kolonial
FC Sankt Leopold 2–2 FJ Girona
Divtasvuodno 2–0 GS Deatnu

It was cruise control for the big 2 this week under sunnier skies in Sankt Konrad. Nomadik had no trouble whatsoever against Gaivuotna, taking their match with a 5-0 win. Aksel and Elias Nilse were a terror down the wing for the visitors, and Gaivuotna couldn’t deal with it whatsoever. Meanwhile, Varis Skaidi rolled over after Kolonial’s Lavo scored just 3 minutes in, and the visitors would end up coming away with a 4-0 win. That sets up an all-important derby match next week, as the big 2 meet again. Elsewhere, Sankt Leopold got on track after a difficult few weeks, as they got goals from the two men up front, Klempner and Lagon. Lagon’s goal was particularly inspired, a shot from outside of the box that had a great deal of power on it. Girona, however, were equally solid on the day, and managed to exploit some of the inexperience in the Eagles’ backline, Simut managing two goals of his own to keep the score 2-2. Finally, GS Deatnu travelled to Divtasvuodno in the first match of new manager Ivvar’s reign. It wasn’t the start he would have wanted, however, as Divtasvuodno continued their excellent form in the league thus far with a 2-0 win. Little trouble for the Bears, who had total control for most of the match. Ivvar clearly has a lot of work to do.

SKFA Cup Second Round - First Leg

Kolonial 2–0 FJ Gaivuotna
FJ Girona 1–0 Varis Deatnu
Divtasvuodno 2–1 Nomadik
FJ Jokkohakko 1–2 FC Sankt Leopold

The first leg, for the most part, went as expected for the Raidodassi clubs. Kolonial earned a solid 2-0 win over Gaivuotna, who fielded a first-choice squad against Kolonial’s mix of first-teamers and youth. Timo Hackl sat this one out, but it was Lavo who did the scoring anyways, once from the penalty spot and another off a corner in the later stages. It’s a good win, but Kolonial will have to tread carefully in a hostile environment for the second leg. Meanwhile, Girona took on Varis Deatnu and came away with a 1-0 win. The Silbadassi side did a great job of shutting down Girona’s offensive talents, and though they couldn’t get much going seemed well on their way to an impressive draw in the first leg. It wasn’t meant to be, however, and Gahppa scored in second half stoppage time to secure Girona’s dominance also earned a win. The surprise of the round saw Divtasvuodno take the game to Nomadik in a 2-1 win. It was a very hostile environment for a visiting Nomadik squad mainly made up of reserve players, heading into the New Guard clash this weekend, and they crumbled under that pressure. Divtas went up 2-0 in the first 25 minutes, and would hold that lead after. Divtas will be disappointed, however, to have given up an away goal that won’t do them any favours in the second leg at Nomadik. Finally, Sankt Leopold travelled to Jokkohakko for their first leg tie. The smallest club in the SKFA Cup, Jokkohakko, who won the competition in a memorable 1984 shock, actually took a 1-0 lead early on before Sankt Leopold’s Carl Weis scored twice in the second half to put them away. The second leg ties will be played after matchday 12.

Matchday 11

Divtasvuodno 2–3 FJ Gaivuotna
GS Deatnu 1–2 FC Sankt Leopold
FJ Girona 0–0 FJ Varis Skaidi
Kolonial 6–1 Nomadik

A week of radical storyline change in the Raidodassi! It was raining again on Sankt Konrad this week, as the end of the early summer storm season approaches. It made, however, for some memorable moments in the league. FJ Gaivuotna managed to avenge their earlier 3-0 loss to Divtasvuodno with a big 3-2 win that sees them move up to just one point back of Divtas in 3rd. The host Bears just couldn’t gain control in midfield, Bierril and Mellit Milot dominating in the middle of the park. Bierril in particular looked to be a wizard on the pitch, absolutely taking Nuhtte out of the game for Divtas. Gaivuotna also managed to stop Rasmos’ effectiveness by assigning Duongi a bit more defensive responsibility. Goals from Siigur (x2) and Indu Herko gave Gaivuotna three goals, and while Divtas would get two through Joel Simit and Niba, it wasn’t enough. Back to the drawing board for the Bears, who have found a way to be effective against the top clubs but perhaps need to re-assess their strategy in the middle. Things looked promising for GS Deatnu early on in the East Coast derby, with Bannos scoring to put them 1-0 up, but Sankt Leopold showed again why they’ve been able to have success in the league this season with a second-half come-back to win 2-1. Varis Skaidi played arguably their best match all season as they held on at the back to stop Girona from scoring a single goal. Of course, Skaidi had trouble getting the ball over the halfline, but they hung on and are now 5 points up on Deatnu in 7th.

The New Guard clash this week had all the makings of a huge match. Kolonial sat 5 points back of Nomadik ahead of week 11, and in the last meeting a young Nomadik side had gotten the better of Kolonial in all areas of the pitch for a 4-3 win. Kolonial manager Horst Prantl assured the media things would be different: “They beat us, and then lost the next week to Girona. That just tells you what you need to know about the character of their squad. They’re only focused on us. Look, it’s one game, we’re gonna win it, but what’s important for us is winning the rest of the games too.” Nomadik’s manager, Volbmar Albe, had to laugh at that comment: “I know Horst is just trying to get in our heads, but he’s 5 points back of us right now and we intend on making it 8 tomorrow.” The derby match, traditionally scheduled for Sunday morning, had to be moved to the evening due to reports of severe weather hitting Wilhelmstadt in the morning. So, these two rivals met under the lights in a huge league match: both in good form, with perhaps a bit more pressure on Kolonial.

The delay, as it turned out, didn’t matter: rain was beating down throughout the 90 minutes, and the 2500 at Der Hafen were provided raincoats - dark red for those in the Kolonial section, blue for those brave few in the Nomadik section. Tonight, however, the brave ones on the pitch were the boys in red and gold. Kolonial were incredible on the day, playing perhaps their best match in a long time. Hentto was given the instruction by Prantl to track back a bit more and help Migal deal with Aksel at the back, and it worked well as Aksel was almost totally marked out of the game. Nomadik also struggled to get the ball out wide due to the heavy rain. That led to a perfect storm for Kolonial, led by Iskko. A great ball over the top allowed Lavo to put Kolonial up 1-0, before Timo Hackl scored another to make it 2. The game was lost for Nomadik, however, when Lenne fouled Hackl in the box minutes before the halftime whistle. Lenne was sent off on his second yellow, Hackl made it 3-0 from the spot, and Nomadik were truly in trouble.

You could forgive any Nomadik fan that left the stadium at half-time, to avoid the storm and the collapse of their team. To their credit, the Nomads stayed loud and proud for the entire 90 minutes despite their being basically nothing to cheer. Lavo, 4-0, then Lars Herrer for 5. Nomadik had nothing to respond with, down to 10 men and clearly down on their spirits. If it were any other team, Kolonial may have held back, but wanting to give their fans even more to add to what will be a great memory, the Pioneers kept coming forward. Iskko himself capped off his dominant performance with a goal to make it 6-0, and after that Kolonial held off. Nomadik would give their fans something to cheer late, as Morten made it 6-1, but that was little consolation of one of the worst days in Nomadik history.

After the game, Kolonial manager Horst Prantl just wanted to move on: “Character. It took a lot of character from our boys to go out and give that performance under those conditions, and not every club has that ability. Look, we’re on to Gaivuotna next week. This one’s in the books.” Of course, Prantl had to manage a jab at his rival in that statement, and by the celebrations posted online from the Kolonial dressing room you can tell it’s not fully ‘in the books’ yet. Meanwhile, Volbmar Albe had to face a demanding press conference: “What do you want me to say? We were terrible. But we’re still first in the league, and there’s still 17 more games to play. I’m not worried, every team has a bad game.” Asked whether some players days in the first team may be numbered, he replied “One game isn’t going to determine that, I want to see how we bounce back next week.”

It’ll go down as a classic New Guard moment, with Kolonial crushing Nomadik 6-1 amidst under black skies amidst thunder and lightning. The Wilhelmstadt Zeitung cover said it all the next day: ‘Blitzed!’

Matchday 12

FJ Gaivuotna 0–2 Kolonial
Nomadik 1–1 FJ Girona
FJ Varis Skaidi 0–1 GS Deatnu
FC Sankt Leopold 0–3 Divtasvuodno

Guess who’s back at the top of the league? Kolonial faced down a hostile atmosphere at Gaivuotna, who wanted to take them down a bit after Kolonial’s massive derby win last week: “Their head has gotten a little too big, and we’re gonna show them what we mean,” said manager Elias Lemet in a rare press conference soundbite. On the pitch, however, it was Kolonial doing the talking as they shut down Gaivuotna completely. Iskko had another excellent performance in the middle of the park, and while Gaivuotna’s midfield aren’t slouches, Kolonial took control. Goals from Hackl and Lavo saw them earn all 3 points. Nomadik, meanwhile, looked a shadow of themselves at home against Girona: clearly shell-shocked from last week’s annihilation. Aksel would get himself back on the scoresheet, but Girona were giving them trouble at the back all game. Finally, at the death, Simut would find a way past Ovla and fire a shot past Lejo to make it 1-1. So, with Nomadik’s slip-up, Kolonial go back on top. GS Deatnu secured a huge win, the first of the season and first of Ivvar’s reign. Bannos had the goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 win over relegation rivals FJ Varis Skaidi, and while Deatnu weren’t excellent, they were solid. Meanwhile, Divtasvuodno made Sankt Leopold their punching-bag after last week’s loss, dominating the match in all areas. A high press from the Bears ensured that Sankt Leopold couldn’t move out from the back, their biggest strength, and Per Scholl’s passing was made ineffective. Rasmos had his mojo back, too, and knocked in a header for his first goal of the season in the 3-0 win.

SKFA Cup Second Round - Second Leg

FJ Gaivuotna 1–2 Kolonial (Kolonial win 4-1 on agg.)
Varis Deatnu 0–7 FJ Girona (FJ Girona win 8-0 on agg.)
Nomadik 1–1 Divtasvuodno (Divtasvuodno win 3-2 on agg.)
FC Sankt Leopold 2–0 FJ Jokkohakko (FC Sankt Leopold win 4-1 on agg.)

No turnarounds here, as every team that managed a first leg lead held on for the win. Gaivuotna put up a fight against Kolonial, wanting a win over their hated rival, and went 1-0 up quick in their match before Kolonial put them away with goals on either side of the break. A 4-1 aggregate win and Kolonial march on. Varis Deatnu clearly used up all their luck in the first leg of the tie, as they collapsed at home against an invigorated Girona side that perhaps senses a bit of blood this year in the Cup. 7-0 the final in that one. Girona’s senses would prove right later on in the day, as a Nomadik side - clearly still not at their best, a young squad demoralized by their humiliation by Kolonial - struggled all match against Divtasvuodno, getting a late goal to earn the tie in the second leg, but going out of the Cup. And so things open up a bit now, with only 1 of the big 2 heading to the semifinals. Elsewhere, FJ Jokkohakko couldn’t put up much resistance to Sankt Leopold who won 2-0 to advance to the semifinals.

The draw for the semifinal was completed at full time of the Nomadik-Divtasvuodno tie on live television. The fixtures drawn for the semifinal round see FC Sankt Leopold taking on Divtasvuodno, while FJ Girona will go up against Kolonial. Divtasvuodno have to be favourites against Sankt Leopold, but the Eagles have proven they are a serious contender in the Cup so far. The other semifinal is a similar story: Kolonial are the obvious favourites now to win the Cup, but Girona will be a tough challenge and it could easily go the Skyblues’ way. The first leg of the semifinal will be played after matchday 20.

Matchday 13

FC Sankt Leopold 2–1 FJ Gaivuotna
Divtasvuodno 3–1 FJ Varis Skaidi
GS Deatnu 2–0 Nomadik
FJ Girona 1–0 Kolonial

Sankt Leopold pick up an important win over Gaivuotna, bringing the Eagles up to 5th in the league now. Sankt Leopold continued their great play out the back here, with Gaivuotna not having the capability to press them the way Divtasvuodno did last week. A ball over the top from Per Scholl found the boot of Rudolf Klempner, and his goal gave Sankt Leopold the 2-1 win. Meanwhile, Divtasvuodno secured what now looks to be a very important win with a 3-1 triumph over Varis Skaidi. Varis were out of their depth in this one, and Divtasvuodno could’ve had more if it wasn’t for the stellar play of Bavlos in the Reds’ goal. 3 points for Divtas, however, and they are now 3rd in the league - and only 2 points off the top. It was shocking results for both of the Big 2 today, as both clubs failed to score in the league this week - it’s the first time that has happened since 2015. The bigger upset has to be Deatnu getting their second straight win and defeating Nomadik 2-0. Jagat has been criticized this season, more was expected of the young right back, but he stormed forward all match and was a key part in both goals. Nomadik have just lost all form after being crushed by Kolonial, and Deatnu’s fans taunted them with an ironic chant: “How s*** must you be, we lose every week!” It’s been all winning lately for the Hammers, however, and they pull themselves up to 7th in the league now. Nomadik’s loss doesn’t do them too much damage, however, as Kolonial sputtered against Girona. Perhaps wanting to set a tone for the upcoming Cup semifinal, Girona were buzzing all over the pitch, outworking a Kolonial side who probably turned up expecting a walk in the park after a few stale performances from Girona of late. It was the Skyblues who came away with 3 points, however, Ailun Rede burying Kolonial with a first half goal.

Matchday 14

FJ Gaivuotna 1–1 FJ Girona
Kolonial 9–1 GS Deatnu
Nomadik 0–1 Divtasvuodno
FJ Varis Skaidi 0–1 FC Sankt Leopold

13 goals scored on Matchday 14, 9 of them from 1 team. We’ll get to that one in a minute, however, as the early match on Saturday saw Gaivuotna and Girona play out a 1-1 draw. Neither side was able to gain a clear advantage over the other, although Girona had the better of the chances between the two. Gaivuotna, however, were clinical when they needed to be, with Siigur scoring a late equalizer. GS Deatnu travelled to face Kolonial, and if Kolonial’s 6-1 win over Nomadik was described as ‘annihilation,’ this could be called a massacre. Deatnu, perhaps riding a bit too high after back-to-back wins including one over Nomadik, came out attacking at the start of the game - huge mistake. Kolonial punished them all over the pitch, going up 6-0 in the first 30 minutes, including 4 goals in 3:45 of game time. Kolonial went a bit easier in the second half, ‘only’ adding three more to their total for a 9-1 final. Timo Hackl had four of those, finally earning some praise from Horst Prantl after the match. Nomadik, meanwhile, continued to disappoint. You have to think Aksel is playing injured, because he hasn’t had the same pace for a few weeks now, and maybe it’s time to give him the rest he clearly needs. Either way, Divtas again bullied Nomadik off the park, each tackle getting a louder cheer from the away fans as a late goal from Riibma gave the visitors a 1-0 win. It’s 6 straight without a win in all competitions now for Nomadik, and things need to turn around quickly at the Albmotsstadion. The final match of the weekend saw Sankt Leopold earn a 1-0 win over Varis Skaidi, Skaidi weren’t in this one at all, really, and you have to think they will be going down now - although Deatnu’s performance today should give them some hope.

With the league halfway complete, let’s take a look at how the table is shaping up:

# Raidodassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Kolonial               14    9   2   3    41   15  +26    29
2 Divtasvuodno           14    8   3   3    29   14  +15    27
3 Nomadik                14    8   2   4    26   17   +9    26
4 FJ Girona              14    5   7   2    19   17   +2    22
5 FC Sankt Leopold       14    6   3   5    20   22   −2    21
6 FJ Gaivuotna           14    5   3   6    17   24   −7    18
7 GS Deatnu              14    2   1  11     9   33  −24     7
8 FJ Varis Skaidi        14    1   3  10     7   26  −19     6

Kolonial sit atop the table, and it is thanks to their incredible offensive record. 12 more goals than the next closest team, Divtasvuodno, and more than the 4th and 5th placed teams combined. Lavo has been a bright spot up front, in his first season in the full team, while Timo Hackl has also picked things up after struggling early. They are scoring nearly 3 goals per game, and if that continues, you can probably gift-wrap the league title sooner rather than later. Second is a bit of a surprise, with Divtasvuodno moving into that position after the win against Nomadik. The defensive record of Divtas has been their brightest spot, and it comes from a few areas. Fretterat proves again why he’s one of the top keepers in the league, the backline has been excellent - particularly Rasmos at right back, but Joha (CB) is having an excellent year as well. The midfield has been arguably second-best in the division as well, with Marten and Riibma earned a lot of praise. In third are Nomadik. Things were shaping up well for the Nomads early in the year, but this recent skid appears to have cost them any shot at a trophy - out of the Cup, and chasing Kolonial now. It’s only a 3 point gap, but Nomadik need to turn things around immediately.

In the middle, FJ Girona lead the pack in 4th. They’ve earned a few decent results this year, and actually have the fewest number of defeats in the league so far - only 2. They need to be more clinical, however - if they’d turned a few of those draws into wins, they could be a few points better off. 19 goals through 14 games isn’t good enough, and you have to think Girona will be cursing the fact they haven’t done better in what’s been a chaotic season so far. They are still in the Cup, however, and a win over Kolonial earlier this year proves they have a chance. Sankt Leopold, meanwhile, have been a pleasant surprise, showing up in big games and having a decent record for a club of their stature. They’ll be hoping the good times will continue, especially as they advance to the Cup semifinal. In 6th are Gaivuotna. The Seals haven’t had the best year so far, also going out of the Cup to rivals Kolonial in the second round. The problem has been goals - Indu Herko isn’t getting enough chances, as Gaivuotna have struggled in matches where they cannot use their width.

At the bottom, GS Deatnu and FJ Varis Skaidi have been almost equally horrid. Deatnu, however, have given up far more goals - though most of that came in one 9-1 loss. There’s a bit more hope, you have to think, for the Hammers as well: they did pick up 2 straight wins under new manager Ivvar, including a win over Nomadik. Meanwhile, Skaidi have only 1 win all season, coming on matchday 4.

Halfway through the Silbadassi season, let’s take a look at the table:

# Silbadassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
1 Davvenasti             14    8   4   2    18   10   +8    28
2 FC Sankt Anna          14    8   3   3    27   10  +17    27
3 FJ Jokkohakko          14    6   3   5    17   16   +1    21
4 Poliisa                14    5   4   5    14   14    0    19
5 Hafenarbeiter          14    5   4   5    13   16   −3    19
6 FK Wilhelmstadt        14    4   5   5    19   19    0    17
7 Varis Deatnu           14    3   3   8     8   23  −15    12
8 Guovdageidnu           14    2   4   8    10   18   −8    10

The Good: Davvenasti are where we expected them, up top of the league. They’ve had a bit more a challenge then we expected, however, from FC Sankt Anna. Davvenasti should put more of a gap between themselves and the pack over the coming matches, however, currently on a 4-game winning streak in the league. Other bright spots include a surprise from two amateur sides: Poliisa and Hafenarbeiter clearly made the right choices amongst their tryouts this year, as the two clubs actually sit 4th and 5th. You might think they’ll drop back in the second half, but you never know - perhaps they’ve managed to assemble quality sides. FJ Jokkohakko are having a good season of their own with a young squad, and they should be co-favourites with FC Sankt Anna for next season to go up.

The Bad: The biggest disappointments have to be Guovdageidnu and Varis Deatnu. Varis took their eye off the ball a bit in the league after they advanced in the Cup first round, and all they earned for it was an 8-0 aggregate loss to Girona. Guovdageidnu, meanwhile, have had trouble holding onto leads, with all 4 of their draws having come from winning positions thrown away. FK Wilhelmstadt wouldn’t normally be in here, but they have to be wondering how they’ve fallen behind Poliisa and Hafenarbeiter amongst the amateur sides - the hope at the club will be that Poliisa and Hafenarbeiter have succeeded through surprise so far.

There’s still much more to come in the Raidodassi season. While Kolonial appear to be the favourites, the title is still very much in play - Divtasvuodno and Nomadik amongst the competitors. There’s a relegation race brewing as well, as Varis Skaidi and GS Deatnu will battle to stay in the top tier. Meanwhile, the SKFA Cup is shaping up to have a dramatic conclusion, with 3 of the 4 remaining clubs coming from outside the Big 2. Kolonial will be looking to do the double, and every other club in the country will be wanting to stop them. Who will get the job done? The answers are coming in the second half of the Raidodassi season.

[Sankt Konrad]

2020 Raidodassi Season - Part II

Matchday 15

FJ Varis Skaidi 0–6 FJ Gaivuotna
Nomadik 0–0 FC Sankt Leopold
Kolonial 1–3 Divtasvuodno
FJ Girona 2–0 GS Deatnu

Weren’t we just saying Gaivuotna can’t put the ball in the back of the net? The Seals hit a six against Varis Skaidi, but it doesn’t mean they’ve solved their problems. Varis Skaidi let Gaivuotna run rampant on the wings, with Siigur particularly dominant. Indu Herko did manage a hat-trick, and Gaivuotna can take great confidence from this win. Nomadik struggled to get anything going against Sankt Leopold. However, the Nomads did appear to have shaken off the dark clouds that had been above them for weeks now, as they dominated much of the game. Aksel did sit out this week, he’s expected back for the next fixture. Sankt Leopold managed to hold on admirably and pick up an important win. Meanwhile, we’ve got a new leader in the table! Divtasvuodno shocked just about everybody this week as they picked up a 3-1 win over Kolonial. Divtas are now 2-1-1 against the Big 2 so far this year, a great record indeed, and today’s win is the most memorable for sure. Divtas took the game to Kolonial, a sight rarely seen at Der Hafen, and two early goals from Niba sent them off to a flyer. Lavo would get one back for Kolonial on the edge of halftime, but Nihkul Jorge scored again in the later stages for Divtasvuodno to secure a famous 3-1 win. They go top, as mentioned, and are now 1 point ahead of Kolonial. Whether or not this is a temporary change, or if Divtas can take it all the way for a famous upset league win, remains to be seen. FJ Girona, meanwhile, had no trouble with Deatnu. Girona were able to exploit Deatnu’s weaknesses out wide, and Gahppa for Girona was excellent, scoring one and assisting a further goal in the 2-0 win for the Skyblues.

Matchday 16

FJ Gaivuotna 2–2 GS Deatnu
Divtasvuodno 2–0 FJ Girona
FC Sankt Leopold 3–8 Kolonial
FJ Varis Skaidi 0–2 Nomadik

Gaivuotna failed to convert last week’s huge win into anything other than disappointment this week. Again it was a struggle in the middle of the park, as Oavan in particular continues to have a down year. That allowed a hungry GS Deatnu squad to bring themselves back into the game after going 2-0 down, and Bannos picked up his 7th and 8th goals of the year to bring Deatnu back into it and give them an important point. Deatnu’s game, other than the 9-1 loss, has been much better since Ivvar took over, and they could be a tricky team to play the rest of the way. Divtasvuodno, meanwhile, keep their lead at the top of the league thanks to an important 2-0 win over FJ Girona. It was always going to be a battle in the midfield here, with Divtasvuodno taking the advantage on this day. Sappa was kept off the ball for Girona, and Divtas could exploit that. Riibma assisted the first goal, while the second was some great work from Herko Nilan, the left back who’s been a bit overshadowed by Rasmos this year on the opposite side - there was no overshadowing today, however, as Herko Nilan earned the appreciation of the home crowd thanks to a beautiful assist on the second goal for Divtas. Meanwhile, Kolonial continued their trend of responding to losses with massive wins: this time, it was FC Sankt Leopold on the end of the sword. Kolonial take them down, 8-3 the final score. The visiting Pioneers went down 2-0 early before seemingly flipping a switch, up 6-2 at the half and then continuing that dominance in the second frame. Elsewhere, Nomadik finally have a win. Aksel’s return saw him back in top speed and top form, and he had two assists as the Nomads defeated FJ Varis Skaidi 2-0. That puts them 2 back of Kolonial and 3 back of Divtas at the top.

Matchday 17

Nomadik 1–0 FJ Gaivuotna
Kolonial 3–0 FJ Varis Skaidi
FJ Girona 2–2 FC Sankt Leopold
GS Deatnu 1–0 Divtasvuodno

It’s wins like that that Nomadik have been needing for a while now: not the big, flashy blowouts but solid, hard-working results. Nomadik outworked Gaivuotna today in all areas of the pitch, and it paid off as Morten grabbed them a goal in the early moments of the second half to secure the win. Meanwhile, Kolonial grabbed another big win, this time over FJ Varis Skaidi. Kolonial just had total control of this one, not giving Skaidi any quarter. A post-match heat map showed Skaidi with only 2 touches in the Kolonial half. The win brings Kolonial back up to the top of the league table after Divtasvuodno’s disappointing loss to GS Deatnu. It was just one of those days for Divtasvuodno. They dominated the match from start to finish, but found themselves unable to finish: 3 posts and 2 crossbars were hit over the course of the match. Frustrated, Divtas began to push forward more in the final stages, which gave Deatnu the only opening they needed. Bancu over to Jagat on the wing, Jagat down the right side, pass inside for Bannos, goal! And with that, Deatnu have their 3rd win of the season and Divtasvuodno drop back to second place. A disappointing day for the Bears, who will have to work even harder now to climb back to the top. They’ll get an opportunity next week, however, as Kolonial and Nomadik square off for the 3rd time this season.

Matchday 18

FJ Gaivuotna 1–1 Divtasvuodno
FC Sankt Leopold 2–2 GS Deatnu
FJ Varis Skaidi 0–1 FJ Girona
Nomadik 5–3 Kolonial

It was another difficult week for Divtasvuodno, as they struggled to get anything going against Gaivuotna. “Sometimes you just go through stretches like this, we know we can be better and we’re going to be,” said the captain Fretterat after the game. Divtasvuodno actually took an early lead in this one, but the ghosts of their poor finishing last time out came back again to haunt them and Gaivuotna managed to equalize things late. Another draw elsewhere saw GS Deatnu continue this good run of form with a 2-2 final against Sankt Leopold. Sankt Leopold perhaps thought it would be an easy match, a great mistake, as they went down 1-0 in the first 5 minutes before Joel scored to put Deatnu 2-0 up in the East Coast derby. The Eagles, however, weren’t going to let their great season be spoiled by a derby day loss: they recovered in the second half, pushing Deatnu to their limits. Finally, the visiting Hammers bent. Two goals from Lagon gave the Eagles a draw in that one. Meanwhile, FJ Girona had to fight against Varis Skaidi tooth and nail, but they come away with all three points after a second half marker from Ailun Rede.

Then it was the 3rd edition of the New Guard match this year. The stakes keep getting higher: Nomadik with a 4-3 win on matchday 4 to go top of the league, before Kolonial cruised to a 6-1 win on matchday 11 to dramatically alter each club’s fortunes to that point. Now, on matchday 18, the winner today would go top of the league again. “Obviously it’s a big one, everyone knows that. We’re confident that we can get back at them for last time, and hopefully put ourselves back on top,” commented Nomadik manager Volbmar Albe. Horst Prantl, on the other hand, was more blunt: “We’ll win. They haven’t had their heads straight since the 6-1, and we’ll take them to task again.” Both sides of supporters were expectant: Kolonial wanting to pick up from where they left off, Nomadik eager to avenge one of the worst losses in the club’s modern history.

On a warm summer Sunday, Nomadik and Kolonial kicked off in a hugely-important derby day clash. The sides seemed to be relatively even early on in the match, Nomadik trying to figure out new ways to deploy their wingers due to Kolonial’s continued double-marking of Aksel, and Kolonial struggled a bit in the midfield battle. The visitors would strike first, drawing first blood off a corner headed in by Nilpa. It wouldn’t be 5 minutes after that, however, that Nomadik would draw level. A great build-up began with Gappe, who was imposing himself on the game early. He sent the ball out to Aksel on the flank, who managed to avoid the coverage of Migal to put in a cross that found Morten perfectly out in front. 1-1. The even pace continued in the first half, each side adding 1 more each before the whistle to head down the tunnel level at 2.

In the second half, however, it was Nomadik whose adjustments seemed to work best. Mavnos began to push further forward to relieve some pressure on Aksel, and it worked a trick. The move freed up Aksel to be a bit more creative, and also shifted Kolonial’s focus even further to the left side. That meant Elias Nilse now had more space, and he would take full advantage of it, scoring once and assisting on Morten’s second goal. 4-2 now for the home side, and they were on their way to a great win of their own. Kolonial wouldn’t be finished yet, however. Timo Hackl won a penalty in the area then converted it to bring things to 4-3, and the Pioneers pushed hard. It wasn’t enough, however, and Nomadik would catch them on the break in the later stages to make it a 5-3 final, sending the Nomads back on top of the league.

“Disappointed. I know we’re better than that, and our guys know it too. It’s a long season, though, and we’re still in charge of our own destiny. That’s what matters,” said Horst Prantl. On the other side of the pitch, Volbmar Albe was happy: “I think that 6-1 hung over us a lot longer than it should’ve, and today was a chance to put those demons to bed. We can re-start our year based on this, we’re back on top, and that’s where we intend to stay.” Bladdi’s cover on Monday morning was, simply ‘We’re back! People 5-3 Fishermen’.

There is one more meeting between these two sides this year: back at Der Hafen on matchday 25. Given how close things have been so far, you have to imagine it will likely have absolutely massive implications on who comes away with the league title this season.

Matchday 19

Kolonial 1–1 FJ Gaivuotna
FJ Girona 2–2 Nomadik
GS Deatnu 0–0 FJ Varis Skaidi
Divtasvuodno 3–0 FC Sankt Leopold

Change again at the top! Both Big 2 clubs struggled the week after the derby, with each dropping points. Kolonial took on an inspired Gaivuotna side determined to give their fans some sort of result against their big rivals. Gaivuotna would actually cause Der Hafen to go silent early with a goal just 35 seconds in from Siigur. There was a great deal of tension in the stadium the week after the derby loss, and even Timo Hackl’s late equalizer barely caused a great reaction. Kolonial were jeered off by their supporters, and have work to do ahead of an important run of fixtures coming up. Nomadik, meanwhile, had a 2-0 lead against Girona on the road before throwing it away in the second half. Sappa managed to outperform Gappe in the middle of the park, and it was key in Girona’s comeback. Two goals from Juoksa and Simut gave Girona the draw. Elsewhere, the third draw of the weekend saw Deatnu and Skaidi finish all square. Deatnu will be disappointed not to have gotten more from that one, though: a win here would’ve likely ended the relegation race and secured them in the top division. As it is, 6 points clear of a Skaidi side with exactly 1 win so far, they’re probably safe anyways. Bavnos showed again, however, why he’s a quality keeper in keeping a clean sheet for Skaidi and saving them many times this season. Elsewhere, Divtasvuodno go back on top of the Raidodassi thanks to a 3-0 win over FC Sankt Leopold. Divtas saw their opportunity after watching both Kolonial and Nomadik falter this weekend, and they came out with intent against the Eagles. Niba had two first half goals in the win. After going back on top of the league, Bears manager Julejus had this to say: “We have no intention of giving it up again. We are for real, and we can win this league.”

Matchday 20

FJ Gaivuotna 1–0 FC Sankt Leopold
FJ Varis Skaidi 0–2 Divtasvuodno
Nomadik 1–0 GS Deatnu
Kolonial 4–1 FJ Girona

Gaivuotna put in a workhorse performance to have their 3rd straight game with a point, and this win over Sankt Leopold puts them up to 5th in the table. Gaivuotna’s high press ensured that Sankt Leopold couldn’t build from the back as they are used to, and they had to fall back on route 1 football. Meanwhile, Bierill had a great performance, including scoring the winning goal for Gaivuotna. Divtasvuodno stayed top of the league with a strong 2-0 win over Skaidi. It was a solid performance in all areas for Divtas, and it was exactly what the manager Julejus was looking for after his statement last week. 8 matches left, and there’s no room for error for the Bears. Nomadik had to find a way against Deatnu, and the answer seemed to be going back to basics, the winning goal coming from as direct a play as you’ll see, Morten knocking it past a diving Speaidna. FJ Girona were hoping to put more a challenge up against Kolonial, especially going into the first leg of the Cup semifinal, but it just wasn’t to be today. Kolonial were a team reeling from 2 straight weeks of subpar performances, and they finally gave the fans something to cheer today with a huge win. Lavo earned his first-ever Raidodassi hat-trick in the win, which sees Kolonial now sitting 1 point back of Divtasvuodno and Nomadik, tied on 40 each. Next week will see Kolonial have a great chance to go back on top, as Divtasvuodno and Nomadik will play for the final time this season.

SKFA Cup Semifinal - First Leg

FC Sankt Leopold 0–1 Divtasvuodno
FJ Girona 0–2 Kolonial

Two wins for the away sides in the Semifinal first leg, and that might be all it takes here. Divtasvuodno opened up their match with intent, eager to get back to the Cup final in a year they’ve already proven their ability to compete with the Big 2. In a one-game final, who knows what could happen? Sankt Leopold knew they were going to have to park the bus to keep themselves in this tie, and that’s what they would do, shutting up shop. The plan worked until, well it didn’t, Rasmos finding a way past the heavy coverage with a cross that met Niba’s head and went in. The Bears inched the door to the Cup final open here in the win, and they’ll be hoping to smash it down in the second leg. Girona will come away disappointed from their match with Kolonial. They looked very good in the first 15 minutes, but a slight adjustment from Kolonial that saw Iskko move further forward changed things completely. Iskko got a goal of his own, and Timo Hackl would add another in the second half to make it 2-0. Back at home, Kolonial should be in control of this tie. With Divtasvuodno and Kolonial in the running for the league title as well as the Cup final now, it should be a great finale to the season. The second leg fixtures will be played after matchday 22.

Matchday 21

FJ Girona 3–2 FJ Gaivuotna
GS Deatnu 0–2 Kolonial
Divtasvuodno 7–7 Nomadik
FC Sankt Leopold 0–0 FJ Varis Skaidi

FJ Girona responded to their chances at winning the SKFA Cup likely being dashed with a great performance against Gaivuotna. With Kolonial and Divtasvuodno, the Cup finalists-in-waiting according to some pundits, also in the top 3, 4th position in the league is likely to end up as the last IFCF spot. Girona’s win puts them 6 points above Gaivuotna in 4th now. It was a back-and-forth game that saw Girona take a late lead and hung on for the win. Kolonial were expecting a bit more from Deatnu, probably, but after they put 2 goals away in the first 25 minutes it took it a bit easier for the rest of the match. Kolonial would go back to first place thanks to… that other result.

Divtasvuodno and Nomadik broke a 75-year-old record for most goals in a single game, having 14 between them. While it was hyped up as a hugely-important potential title-decider, no-one could’ve predicted this. Both teams wanted the win badly, and two young squads threw caution to the wind. Divtas took a 2-0 lead early, then Nomadik brought it back to 2-2. Nomadik followed that up with 2 more goals before half-time to take a 4-2 lead into the half. This time it was Divtas’ turn to peg them back, however, as the Bears brought it to 4-4 before the 60th minute. Then, Niba scored his 2nd of the game to give Divtas a 5-4 lead. Morten answered back for Nomadik 1:21 of real time later, making it 5-5. It was 5-5 in the 85th minute when Aksel’s hat-trick goal made it 6-5 Nomadik. Divtasvuodno would equalize again in the final minute of normal time through Nihkul Jorge. 9 minutes of stoppage time were added due to all of the stoppages. Nomadik thought they’d won it when Elias Nilse scored early into the added time, but Divtasvuodno hadn’t given up. Niba won a penalty at 90+8’, using the last kick of the game to equalize for the Bears. Neither side can be happy with the result - and Julejus in particular was not happy with Divtasvuodno’s defending in his post-match presser - but Divtasvuodno can be proud of their fightback. Both sides, however, now sit behind Kolonial in the table.

Matchday 22

FJ Gaivuotna 0–0 FJ Varis Skaidi
FC Sankt Leopold 1–3 Nomadik
Divtasvuodno 3–1 Kolonial
GS Deatnu 0–2 FJ Girona

A massive point for Varis Skaidi as they remain, technically, in with a shout of avoiding relegation this year. No matter what, Bavlos has to be the club’s MVP this year, and his name will be signed on a professional contract this offseason. His best save of the day was keeping an Indu Herko penalty before also getting back across to stop his rebound attempt. Nomadik got an important win over Sankt Leopold as well that gets them back on track after last week’s 7-7 draw with Divtas. Nomadik exploited the Eagles’ weakness out wide this time, Aksel and Elias Nilse terrorizing Altermann and Glockner at the back. Aksel would score the winning goal from a free kick. Surely he must be young player of the year, having had an excellent season so far and keeping his club in the title race. Divtasvuodno had to run the gauntlet for the second straight week, facing off against Kolonial. But Divtas would retake top spot in the league table with a great win, and Bears fans can begin to dream. Niba sent them 1-0 ahead, but Lavos equalized for Kolonial quite soon after. Divtasvuodno, however, had an answer to everything Kolonial offered in the second half, and goals from Nuhtte and Joel Simit gave Divtasvuodno the 3-1 win. Divtas are top of the league, and with a final day clash against Nomadik on the cards, this might go down to the last day. In the other match of the weekend, FJ Girona cruised past Deatnu, 2-0 the final there. That gives them an 8-point cushion in 4th. Deatnu, however, need another win soon: they’ve only got a 4 point cushion now over Skaidi, who are picking up points here and there.

SKFA Cup Second Round - Second Leg

Divtasvuodno 3–2 FC Sankt Leopold (Divtasvuodno win 4-2 on agg.)
Kolonial 3–2 FJ Girona (Kolonial win 5-2 on agg.)

They had to fight for it - Divtasvuodno in particular, who went 2-0 down against Sankt Leopold at one point - but the SKFA Cup Final will see Kolonial take on Divtasvuodno. As a result, the Cup Final will be held at Nomadik’s stadium, the Albmotsstadion (the final venue alternates between the Albmotsstadion and Der Hafen each year). With both sides involved in the title race as well, it should be an interesting final: Kolonial looking for cup #41, Divtasvuodno looking for #6. Assuming Kolonial and Divtasvuodno finish in the top 3, as they are both currently expected to, the #4 position in the league would officially serve as an IFCF Challengers’ Cup qualifier. The SKFA Cup Final will be played after the final round of matches.

Matchday 23

GS Deatnu 0–0 FJ Gaivuotna
FJ Girona 3–1 Divtasvuodno
Kolonial 1–1 FC Sankt Leopold
Nomadik 4–1 FJ Varis Skaidi

The 0-0 draw between Deatnu and Gaivuotna has implications in the lower half of the table. Gaivuotna now find themselves 10 points back of Girona, and with that being the gap between 4th and 5th, it seems as if FJ Girona will secure the IFCF qualification spot in fourth position. Deatnu put themselves 5 points clear of Varis Skaidi as well, with 5 matches remaining, and that should probably secure their safety in the Raidodassi. Every match was important today, particularly FJ Girona’s win over Divtasvuodno. Perhaps it was too good to be true, Divtas’ great run, and they are behind in the title race now. Girona took control of the game early, the visitors perhaps a bit tired out after 2 straight weeks of huge matches and a Cup semifinal tossed in the midweek. Either way, Girona’s win gave both Kolonial and Nomadik an opportunity. Kolonial would fail to take that opportunity, as they allowed Sankt Leopold back into the game late. The Eagles hadn’t offered much all game, but sensed blood in the dying moments: Per Scholl got the tying goal with a header off a late corner. Nomadik, meanwhile, took their opportunity: Varis Skaidi scored only their 8th goal of the league campaign to take an early lead that saw stunned faces at the Albmotsstadion, but Nomadik wouldn’t falter and came back to win 4-1. Nomadik go top on 47 points, Divtas second with 44 points and Kolonial in third with 43 points.

Matchday 24

FJ Gaivuotna 0–1 Nomadik
FJ Varis Skaidi 1–5 Kolonial
FC Sankt Leopold 0–0 FJ Girona
Divtasvuodno 1–1 GS Deatnu

Nomadik got a champions’ win against Gaivuotna. They dug deep and worked hard all match, despite some adversity: a rough tackle from Jorgen on Aksel at one point caused some concern on the faces of Nomadik supporters in the stands, but Aksel would be ok. OK enough to score the winner, too, hitting a second-chance effort in the second half to secure the three points. Varis Skaidi managed a goal again against the Big 2, getting one on Kolonial - but the Pioneers put 5 past them after Horst Prantl challenged his team: “We had all year to put it away, and we couldn’t. I told them, now, you have 5 games left. You must win all 5. Anything less won’t be enough. You still have your fate.” Two draws elsewhere, as Sankt Leopold and Girona played quite a dull match that ended 0-0. The best chance of the day came off Girona captain Jovnna’s head, a well-placed effort that was just headed away by Moritz Prantl in the Eagles’ goal. Elsewhere, Divtasvuodno’s draw against Deatnu may just have killed their title dream. They were wasteful in front of the net, and gave Deatnu a chance to get back in it - which the Hammers would, a late goal from Bannos getting the draw. At the top, it’s still Nomadik with 50, followed by Kolonial second with 46 points and Divtasvuodno third with 45 points. Next week, it’s the New Guard derby. 4-3, 6-1, 5-3 - none of that matters now. One more derby match for this year, one more chance for these two clubs to get one over on the other. A Nomadik win, and the league is all but theirs. A Kolonial win, and the Pioneers pull themselves right up to just 1 point back of the Nomads. The streets of Wilhelmstadt will be full of tension this week as each side settles in for one of the biggest derbies in recent history.

Matchday 25

Divtasvuodno 1–4 FJ Gaivuotna
GS Deatnu 1–0 FC Sankt Leopold
FJ Girona 0–1 FJ Varis Skaidi
Kolonial 6–3 Nomadik

Divtasvuodno are out of it now for sure - they had very little to offer FJ Gaivuotna, who must be credited for an excellent effort on the day. Divtas just couldn’t sustain a title challenge, tiring as the season wore on, and their lack of depth also hurt them. Technically, they still have a chance - only 5 points back now - but they’ll need a miracle. GS Deatnu got a win in the final East Coast derby of the season, as they triumphed over Sankt Leopold 1-0. Sankt Leopold looked off their game today, making several unforced errors on the ball, and the Hammers would capitalize. The winning goal would actually be credited as an Own Goal, deflecting off Ingo Stahl and into the net for Deatnu to secure 3 points. That would’ve 100% confirmed their safety with a Varis Skaidi loss, but in a shock, Varis picked up their 2nd win of the season with a 1-0 road win over Girona. Skaidi sat back and hit Girona on the counter, Bavlos providing yet another great performance between the sticks as he kept a clean sheet. Each of the Reds’ wins this season have come against Girona, surprisingly, this win being one for the fans to cherish as Skaidi head back to the second tier next year.

“We know what we need to do. I think we do have an advantage, we have more experience than them, but it’ll be a tough challenge, they’ve proven how good they are all year,” said an unusually-complimentary Horst Prentl in the pre-match presser for the derby. Volbmar Albe spoke in similar terms: “Everything’s out the window. We’re not worried about the 6-1, and I’m sure they aren’t worried about their losses this year. A game like this is more about mentality than anything, and I’m confident that we’re going to come through in the end.” The mood around town was also tense: “It’s the biggest one I can remember for a while, in the league at least,” said one Kolonial fan: “Cup Finals, obviously, but whoever wins this game probably takes the league, and we haven’t had a derby like that in at least 10 years.” A Nomadik fan had a similar comment: “I don’t know what I’ll do if we lose, I hate those… we have to win. This is like a Cup final, maybe even bigger - this is a huge moment in the history of this rivalry.” Der Hafen was roaring on a sunny Mittsommer holiday morning as these two rivals faced off for one of a countless many classic matches.

Kolonial kicked off on the front foot, keen on getting off to a good start. They were really taking the game to Nomadik early, and there were nervous hearts in the away section. Those hearts would sink when Lavo got on the end of a Simon Husch cross to put the home side up 1-0. Kolonial were inspired by the first goal, and continued to put Nomadik to the sword. Just 4 minutes after his first, Lavo doubled up to give his side a 2-0 advantage. Nomadik were playing desperate now, needing a goal to get back in it, and that would just open them up further: Migal passed up to Iskko who found an open Timo Hackl: 3-0. Nomadik would grab one back before the halftime whistle, Morten making it 3-1, but Nomadik were in trouble.

The second half saw Kolonial take further control of the game. Iskko played probably his best game all season, and Gappe couldn’t get anywhere near him. Iskko would actually slot in the fourth goal, a fast roller along the turf from the top of the box. Hackl’s second goal in the 60th minute made it 5-1, and it seemed Kolonial were cruising to another big derby win. Nomadik, however, rallied this time and didn’t fold: Morten won a penalty and converted to make it 5-2, before Vuoitu cut inside and found the back of the net to bring it to 5-3. Nomadik hearts were temporarily lifted, and there was a bit of panic on the Kolonial side. But that would go away when Lavo scored his hat-trick goal in the 85th minute on a Kolonial counter, putting them 6-3 up and putting the game away. Kolonial fans were in full voice after that, with ‘46 times and 1521’ roaring from the stands. By stoppage time, the Radio Sankt Konrad commentators actually had to give up commentating as they could no longer be heard over the roar of ‘Soldier of Teusland.’

The holiday win was a massive one for Kolonial, and a crushing win for Nomadik. “I knew they’d pull it out, and I have to credit our supporters, they were in full voice today and that was part of what gave the lads confidence. So, thank you, and we’re gonna go get #47 for you now,” said the manager Horst Prantl. On the other side, Nomadik manager Volbmar Albe added: “It’s a tough one to take, for sure, but look, we’re still at the top of the league, we’re still in this title race, and it’s not a sure thing that they’ll win now. We’re getting focused for next week, and we want to make this right.” The reactions in the fanbase were a bit different: “47 times and 1521, do da! Do da! Get in! What a win. We’re taking the league, and they can’t stop us anymore. Let’s go,” said one jubilant Kolonial fan exiting the stadium. “It’s devastating. I can’t believe we’ve thrown this away. I mean, we still have a chance, I suppose, but that hurts. I’ve not been this upset over the derby since the ‘99 Cup final,” referring to the only SKFA Cup final between these two to reach penalties in 1999, which saw Kolonial come away with the win.

Kolonial will face Gaivuotna, Girona and Deatnu in their final three matches, while Nomadik take on Girona, Deatnu and Divtasvuodno. Similar schedules, with Girona the only likely trip-up for both sides coming up. Gaivuotna will be wanting to stop Kolonial with everything they’ve got, but that may not matter with Kolonial pushing hard for the title. If it comes down to the last day, however, you’ll have to favour Kolonial: Nomadik will have to face Divtasvuodno, who will be wanting to stop them from winning the league. The run-in awaits.

Matchday 26

FJ Gaivuotna 3–10 Kolonial
Nomadik 1–1 FJ Girona
FJ Varis Skaidi 1–1 GS Deatnu
FC Sankt Leopold 0–3 Divtasvuodno

And now Kolonial go top of the league! A massive, massive win - in more ways than one. Gaivuotna came out hard against Kolonial, doing whatever they could to stop the Pioneers marching towards the title. But that strategy wore them out, and although they managed 3 first half goals, they also conceded 6, too. Two red cards as the game got rough, both on Gaivuotna’s side, sealed the Seals’ fate. And Kolonial weren’t going to give any quarter, especially after a hard tackle on Iskko by Leaifa Nilan. And so, for the first and only time so far this season, double digits, as Kolonial showed no mercy and torch Gaivuotna 10-3. Kolonial needed other results to go their way, however, and they would get them. Nomadik tripped up against Girona, going 1-0 down within 15 minutes. Nomadik were then desperate for the rest of the game to get back into it, eventually getting a goal from Morten to make it 1-1. They pushed hard the rest of the way, but couldn’t solve Mavrres. 1-1 the final, and hopes dashed for Nomadik. Varis Skaidi and GS Deatnu drew 1-1, all but ending Skaidi’s chances of survival: if they can manage 2 wins in their final 2 matches (2 in 26 so far) and also reverse a -10 difference in GD, it’s still possible, but… it’s not really possible. Finally, Divtasvuodno secured third place in the league with a 3-0 win over Sankt Leopold, and from now on their focus likely turns to the Cup Final, and keeping their players fresh for that. The title is still technically possible, but it’s out of the Bears’ hands. Kolonial sit first with 52, Nomadik second on 51, and Divtas third with 48 points.

Matchday 27

FC Sankt Leopold 3–1 FJ Gaivuotna
Divtasvuodno 3–0 FJ Varis Skaidi
GS Deatnu 0–1 Nomadik
FJ Girona 0–1 Kolonial

Gaivuotna looked off their game, after the 10-3 loss last week, and Sankt Leopold cruised to a 3-1 win over Gaivuotna, one final home win for the Eagles in this season that surprised many with how they managed a strong effort. Divtasvuodno officially put the nail in Skaidi’s coffin, relegating them with a 3-0 win that also knocks Divtasvuodno out of the title race due to results elsewhere. Divtas played a mix of first team and youth players as they prepare for the Cup final against Kolonial in 2 weeks’ time. Nomadik and Kolonial were both on the road this weekend, each kicking off at 3pm, and each managed similar 1-0 wins. Nomadik and Kolonial each had to fight for it, Kolonial especially in tough against Girona, but the win for both sets up a title still in question on the final day.

Before we get to Matchday 28, let’s check in with the league table and also preview the fixtures on the Raidodassi’s Super Sunday.

# Raidodassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
1 Kolonial               27   17   4   6    87   39  +48    55
2 Nomadik                27   16   6   5    57   38  +19    54
3 Divtasvuodno           27   15   6   6    59   33  +26    51
4 FJ Girona              27   10  11   6    36   33   +3    41
5 FJ Gaivuotna           27    8   8  11    38   47   −9    32
6 FC Sankt Leopold       27    7   9  11    32   47  −15    30
7 GS Deatnu              27    4   7  16    17   47  −30    19
8 FJ Varis Skaidi        27    2   7  18    11   53  −42    13     Relegated

Final Day Fixtures

FJ Gaivuotna v. FJ Girona
Kolonial v. GS Deatnu
Nomadik v. Divtasvuodno
FJ Varis Skaidi v. FC Sankt Leopold

All of the qualification is basically wrapped up, with Kolonial, Nomadik, Divtasvuodno and FJ Girona going to represent the Raidodassi in the IFCF Champions’ League and Challengers’ Cup. At the bottom, too, all is settled, and the only other movement that can happen in the table is Sankt Leopold and Gaivuotna in 5th and 6th. The big matches, however, are Kolonial against GS Deatnu and Nomadik against Divtasvuodno. To win the title, Kolonial need a win or a draw with a Nomadik loss or draw. There’s only one chance for Nomadik to win the league: beat Divtasvuodno, and GS Deatnu pull off a huge upset over Kolonial. It’s unlikely, but it’s possible - and that’s all Nomadik fans need to dream.

On the eve of Super Sunday, there’s tension across Wilhelmstadt: “I’m not worried about Deatnu at all. Everyone said Gaivuotna would stop us, we beat ‘em 10-3. Girona, we pulled it out. I’m not worried,” said one confident Kolonial fan. Another Pioneers supporter, however, was less thrilled: “It’s that 1 in 100 that really throws you, you know? Like, I know we’re going to win… but what if we don’t?” On the Nomadik side: “It’s not in our control. We’ll be cheering for Deatnu as much as the boys in blue tomorrow, of course, and we need them to do it, we need this league, and as much as logically I know it’s over, I feel we’re gonna do it, you know? We’re gonna do it, we have to.”

Radio Sankt Konrad will have complete coverage of the final day of the Raidodassi, as well as the SKFA Cup final and a season-in-review. Only a few questions remain unanswered, and it’s just about time to change that. We’ll be back soon with the final part of the Raidodassi season.

[Sankt Konrad]

2020 Raidodassi Season - Roundup

Radio Sankt Konrad ‘Super Sunday’ Liveblog

12:00pm: Welcome to Radio Sankt Konrad’s live coverage of the final matchday of the Raidodassi season. The title is up for grabs, with both Nomadik and Kolonial being able to win it today. Both teams are in Wilhelmstadt today for their final matches, and thus the Raidodassi trophy is as well. We’ll have coverage leading up to the 3:00pm kick off of the final matches, and then full coverage of the 90 minutes as the title is awarded today.

12:15pm: We spoke to Wilhelmstadt Chief of Police, Johan Muller, about plans for what should be a tense day. “Our preparation is typical to that of a derby day, we’ve got teams ready for a quick response in the areas around the stadiums and in public gathering places. If Kolonial win it, the fans will gather in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz and we’ll be there, if Nomadik win it they’ll be outside their stadium. It’s going to be safe for everyone, and we’ll make sure of it.” The Sankt Konrad Police Service have been quite successful with anti-riot operations relating to football in recent years, and today should be no different.

12:45pm: Horst Prantl is at the media centre at Der Hafen right now taking his pre-match press conference. “We know the stakes. We’ll be on top of our game, and in about, oh, 4 hours from now we’ll be celebrating another title.” Kolonial trained yesterday afternoon, and the players are expected to arrive at the stadium within the hour.

1:00pm: The GS Deatnu team bus has arrived at Der Hafen, the potential spoilers heading into the stadium. “We’re going to go out and play our game, and we’ll see what happens,” said captain of the squad Njugul.

1:05pm: Where will the Raidodassi trophy be during all of this? We spoke to a source at the league office to find out: “We’ll be at the Raidodassi offices in Wilhelmstadt with both games on. The office is about 200m from Kolonial’s stadium and a 5 minute drive from Nomadik, and we’ve got a car ready for that. Once it becomes pretty clear who’s getting it, we’ll head out.”

1:25pm: And now Kolonial have arrived at Der Hafen, arriving all together in the team bus. They stepped off and signed a few autographs for the waiting fans, not talking to the media at all. Iskko gave our correspondents a thumbs up and a quick wave, and Kolonial appeared confident heading in.

1:50pm: Nomadik have arrived at the Albmotsstadion. The players also arrived in the team bus, and also refused to chat with any media ahead of their clash with Divtasvuodno. Fans have also started to file out of pubs in and around the stadium and prepare to enter the stadium.

1:55pm: A few minutes away from team selection, and we’ll remind you of the two other games today. Girona and Gaivuotna don’t have anything to play for other than pride, with Girona already qualified for the IFCF. Meanwhile, FJ Varis Skaidi have one last home game in the Raidodassi, welcoming FC Sankt Leopold to the Skaidi-Stadion.

2:01pm: Team sheets are out. No surprise as Kolonial and Nomadik each go with their first-choice XI. Deatnu are also fielding a first-choice XI against Kolonial, while Divtasvuodno have a few reserve players integrated in their squad - getting ready for the Cup Final next week, presumably.

2:15pm: Kolonial are out warming up now, and there’s an air of confidence amongst those in maroon. Deatnu, meanwhile, in their white change kits, are preparing for the opportunity to halt the Pioneers’ title quest. 2.4km away at the Albmotsstadion, Nomadik are also out - in their blue home kits against Divtasvuodno’s red aways.

2:30pm: Half an hour till kick-off now, and there’s tension all across Wilhelmstadt. The streets are oddly quiet, everyone settling in for the big match. One cafe on the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz hung up their closed sign with a note: “Gone ‘till 4:45. Then back in business for the celebration. 47 times. Come on Kolonial!”

2:55pm It’s an afternoon sun high above Wilhelmstadt, and a temperature of 12 degrees centigrade as the teams come out to the pitch for the pre-match ceremonies. Raidu will be the referee in charge of the Kolonial-Deatnu clash, he was also in charge of Kolonial’s 6-1 win over Nomadik earlier this year. Filpa gets the nod in the Nomadik-Divtasvuodno match, he also refereed the 7-7 draw earlier between these sides.

2:59pm Here we go! Time to find out who will be champions.

3’: First update of the day actually comes from Gaivuotna, where the visiting Girona have just been awarded a penalty. It’s taken by Simut, he’s 7 of 8 this year… oh and he’s missed it, we stay at 0-0.

8’: Nomadik take the lead against Divtasvuodno. They’ve been all-out on attack so far this game, knowing that a win is a must. Elias Nilse made a great run down the right side before cutting in towards the box. He sent a pass in that found Morten, who turned it in to give Nomadik a 1-0 lead.

15’: One-third of the way into the first half, let’s go around the grounds: Gaivuotna and Girona still level 0-0, neither side really taking charge. Nomadik lead Divtas 1-0, the home side are looking dominant in this one. Kolonial have had a few decent chances early against Deatnu, but haven’t found the back of the net yet, while Sankt Leopold have been all over Skaidi so far with nothing to show for it.

16’: Perhaps we jinxed Skaidi, as the Eagles have just scored: Rudolf Klempner heads in off a corner kick. 1-0 for Sankt Leopold.

19’: Sankt Leopold again, Klempner again. 2-0 off a great shot from just above the box.

24’: Nomadik find a way through again to make it 2-0 at the Albmotsstadion as well. Elias Nilse again, he’s having a day so far on the right side, and this time he himself takes the shot to make it 2-0 for Nomadik over Divtasvuodno.

27’: Sankt Leopold go 3-0 up over Skaidi, this time with a goal from the spot that gives Klempner a hat-trick on the final day. Looks like this one’s just about wrapped up.

30’: Around the grounds again: In Gaivuotna things are still 0-0, that missed penalty from Simut being the only notable moment in the match so far. Kolonial and Deatnu are also knotted at 0, but we’re hearing that Kolonial may have been awarded a penalty, more on that in a second. Nomadik lead Divtasvuodno 2-0, and are dominating that one, while Sankt Leopold also lead FJ Varis Skaidi 3-0.

31’: Yes, Kolonial have been awarded a penalty - Lavo was tripped in the box by Bancu. Here’s Lavo to take, and he’s put it away! 1-0 to Kolonial, who go back on top of the league now. If they hang on, they will be champions come 4:45.

36’: Another goal from Nomadik. This time, Aksel found Morten with a pass, he worked his way into the box and slid it past a diving Fretterat. 3-0 to the Nomads, but they’ll need Deatnu to turn things around for it to mean anything.

41’: FJ Varis Skaidi have a goal, Behtter scoring on the break to bring that match to 3-1 in favour of Sankt Leopold.

45’: Halftime in Gaivuotna, as Girona and Gaivuotna go in level at 0-0. Thankfully this one isn’t important, because basically nothing has happened here since the penalty.

45+2’: And it’s now halftime everywhere else: Nomadik 3-0 up on Divtasvuodno, Sankt Leopold 3-1 up on Varis Skaidi and Kolonial 1-0 up on Deatnu. As things stand, Kolonial will be champions. We’ll be back in 15 minutes.

46’: No big half-time changes to tell you about, as it’s really only the Kolonial-Deatnu match that is relevant now.

49’: Another one for Sankt Leopold makes it 4-1 for them over Skaidi, it’s Lagon getting it to put the Eagles even further in front.

52’: And there’s new hope for Nomadik, as GS Deatnu have equalized at Der Hafen! Jagat made a great run down the right side to earn a corner, and on the ensuing play Bannos managed to get a head to the ball and knock it in. Kolonial 1, Deatnu 1 - and Nomadik champions as things stand.

58’: Perhaps invigorated by the out-of-town score, Nomadik have added to their total: 4-0 now, and Gappe has it, a great strike from the outside of the box. With this result pretty much secure, Nomadik fans will now be hoping and praying that Deatnu can hang on.

60’: Around the grounds, and Sankt Leopold have scored as I type. Looks like it’s Lagon again, and that puts them up 5-1. Elsewhere, Nomadik lead Divtasvuodno 4-0, Girona and Gaivuotna are still level 0-0 and Kolonial and Deatnu are also tied 1-1.

63’: The fans at Der Hafen are getting a bit impatient here, Kolonial being booed when they pass it back to keeper Adrian Ganser. They’re well aware of the fact that their side need goals quick to win the league.

67’: Varis Skaidi have made it 5-2, Behtter getting his second of the game from just inside the penalty spot. There’s news at Der Hafen, however, and let’s check in there

68’: Goal! Goal! Kolonial take the lead! Rede managed to get the ball forward to Bastian Kreuzberg, who played an inspired pass up to a speeding Hentto on the right wing. Hentto beat his man, then beat the keeper with a great shot. 2-1 for Kolonial here.

72’: They’ve scored again! Lavo found an open Timo Hackl in the box, and Hackl smashed it past Speaidna to make it 3-1 for Kolonial. Just 10 minutes ago they were getting booed, but now Kolonial and their fans are in heaven as it appears they will win their 47th league title.

75’: Around the grounds: Gaivuotna and Girona have yet to do anything of note since the 3rd minute, a poor match overall in a meaningless game for both teams. Sankt Leopold lead Skaidi 5-2, and that one seems to have lost any sting as well. Meanwhile, Nomadik are up 4-0 on Divtasvuodno and are most interested in hearing the score of Kolonial’s game. Kolonial appear to be in the driver’s seat for the title, leading 3-1 over Deatnu.

79’: And that should do it. A poor foul from Bancu gives Kolonial their second chance from the spot in this game, and Lavo wouldn’t miss as he makes it 4-1. Looks as if it is Kolonial’s day after all.

82’: The TV crew seems to have picked up the Raidodassi trophy being walked across the Hafenstrasse to Der Hafen, and the footage is now being shown inside the stadium: loud cheers, of course. It’s all gone quiet, meanwhile, over at the Albmotsstadion.

87’: Kolonial are drawing closer now, and the stadium is as loud as ever: ‘47 times and 1521, do da, do da’ currently ringing the ears of everyone present. The Pioneers’ support are confident that tonight will be victorious, and with a 4-1 lead with just minutes to go, it looks like it will be.

89’: Deatnu have made it interesting here, though. Going route 1, looking to throw everything forward, they’ve managed a goal: Bancu with a long ball that fools Nilpa and instead finds Njugul perfectly. Njugul wouldn’t be stopped as he sends a powerful strike into the top corner to make it 4-2.

90’: Full time in Gaivuotna, a dull match between the home side and Girona ends 0-0. The whistle also goes in Skaidi, Sankt Leopold taking that one 5-2. Only the two games with title implications are still going.

90+2’: And it’s full time at the Albmotsstadion, a 4-0 win for Nomadik over Divtasvuodno. But it isn’t a happy one, and the stadium is nearly silent at full time, everyone instead paying attention to the score graphic on the screen: Kolonial 4-2 GS Deatnu. Will there be a miracle today?

90+4’: No. Kolonial are champions of the Raidodassi for the 47th time as the full-time whistle goes at Der Hafen. The fans storm the pitch at full time here, and massive celebrations in Wilhelmstadt kick off with maroon and gold fireworks. The trophy is being carried out by two members of the Sankt Konrad Marine Service.

5:00pm: The captain Bastian Kreuzberg is lifting the trophy now, holding it high in the evening sky. “Thank you, and we’ll see you again here next year!,” he tells the overjoyed supporters. Thank you for joining us on our live coverage of the final day, we’ll see you back next week for coverage of the SKFA Cup Final.

5:01pm: Here are the final results from Matchday 28:

FJ Gaivuotna 0–0 FJ Girona
Kolonial 4–2 GS Deatnu
Nomadik 4–0 Divtasvuodno
FJ Varis Skaidi 2–5 FC Sankt Leopold

Raidodassi Season Awards

Golden Ball: Iskko (Kolonial)
Golden Boot: Lavo (24 goals, Kolonial)
Golden Glove: Fretterat (Divtasvuodno)
Young Player of the Year: Aksel (Nomadik)
Manager of the Year: Klemens Bischoff (FC Sankt Leopold)

Best XI

GK - Fretterat (Divtasvuodno)
LB - Simon Husch (Kolonial)
CB - Rede (Kolonial)
CB - Nilpa (Kolonial)
RB - Rasmos (Divtasvuodno)
LM - Aksel (Nomadik)
CM - Gappe (Nomadik)
CM - Iskko (Kolonial)
RW - Elias Nilse (Nomadik)
CF - Lavo (Kolonial)
CF - Timo Hackl (Kolonial)

SKFA Cup Final

Kolonial 1-0 Divtasvuodno

Kolonial XI: Ganser; Husch, Rede, Nilpa, Migal; Herrer, Kreuzberg, Iskko, Hentto; Lavo, Hackl
Divtasvuodno XI: Fretterat, Herko Nilan, Joha, Emel, Rasmos; Joel Simit, Nuhtte, Marten, Riibma, Nihkul Jorge; Niba

Kolonial completed the double by winning their 41st SKFA Cup in a 1-0 win over Divtasvuodno. It was a dull final, to be honest, with neither side being too inspired. We expected more from Divtasvuodno, who laid a bit of an egg here. Their best chance came through Niba early, when his header clanged off the crossbar. Unfortunate luck, and when Lavo put Kolonial 1-0 up just 10 minutes later off a great series of passing from the Pioneers, Kolonial seemed confident in their position. Divtas would push on late, but couldn’t find a way past Adrian Ganser. Disappointment again for Divtas in the Cup - they haven’t won since 1985, and it’s not getting any easier. They have a decent squad, however, and there is hope for the future. Kolonial, meanwhile, have another day of glory, and get closer and closer to 100 total pieces of silverware. “2 a year every year is the goal, and in a few weeks time we’ll get back to work on making it happen again next year,” commented manager Horst Prantl.

# Silbadassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Davvenasti             28   15   8   5    31   15  +16    53     Promoted/Champions
2 FC Sankt Anna          28   15   6   7    44   18  +26    51
3 FJ Jokkohakko          28   11   9   8    33   26   +7    42
4 Poliisa                28   11   9   8    34   28   +6    42
5 Hafenarbeiter          28    8   9  11    23   35  −12    33
6 Varis Deatnu           28    8   9  11    18   33  −15    33
7 FK Wilhelmstadt        28    6   8  14    23   37  −14    26
8 Guovdageidnu           28    4  10  14    20   34  −14    22

The Good: Davvenasti hold off the challenge of FC Sankt Anna, and they go back up to the top division for next year. As expected, and the task for them now is remaining in the Raidodassi. Meanwhile, Sankt Anna have to be favourites for next season alongside Jokkohakko, and perhaps a relegated Varis Skaidi once we see what their squad looks like for next year. Other bright spots included Poliisa and Hafenarbeiter showing that amateur clubs can compete from time to time, finishing 4th and 5th respectively - you have to think they’ll stick with these squads in the future as well.

The Bad: Guovdageidnu had the worst season by far in the league, managing a meager 22 points and finishing behind even FK Wilhelmstadt, the third amateur club. Varis Deatnu were also a disappointment, coming in 6th place and not having a good season at all. FK Wilhelmstadt themselves were just about were they expected to be, but will be disappointed they could not compete with Poliisa and Hafenarbeiter.

#  SKFA Academy League      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Nomadik                   32   20   8   4    48   20  +28    68     Champions
 2 Kolonial                  32   16   6  10    36   27   +9    54
 3 Teussen Sankt Konrad      32   12  14   6    42   28  +14    50
 4 Divtasvuodno              32   14   8  10    38   30   +8    50
 5 FJ Gaivuotna              32   14   7  11    35   27   +8    49
 6 FJ Girona                 32    9  10  13    31   41  −10    37
 7 GS Deatnu                 32    8   7  17    30   43  −13    31
 8 Davvenasti                32    8   6  18    37   54  −17    30
 9 FC Sankt Leopold          32    6   8  18    29   56  −27    26

The Academy League is made up of the 8 professional clubs youth programs, as well as Teussen Sankt Konrad. Teussen Sankt Konrad is the local youth wing of Republikaliga club FC Teussen Stelburg, based in Wilhelmstadt. The academy has never graduated a full-time player to the Teussen first team in its history, but many of the graduates have eventually gone on to play in the Raidodassi. Kolonial, Nomadik, Teussen, Gaivuotna and Divtasvuodno are the usual heavy hitters in this league. This year, Nomadik took the youth league title, having a 14 point gap down to second-placed Kolonial. The player to watch all year, however, was Gaivuotna’s Johan Ertno. At just 15, he was one of the best players in the league, and already Nomadik has tried to get their hands on him. It hasn’t worked, however, and he signed a pro contract with Gaivuotna on his 16th birthday. A great technical midfielder, one scout described him as having the potential to be one of the finest players ever from Sankt Konrad. Gusto, a Nomadik prospect, won the Golden Boot, while his teammate Heaibmu, a powerful centre back, won the Golden Ball.

# Raidodassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
1 Kolonial               28   18   4   6    91   41  +50    58     Champions/IFCF Champions' League
2 Nomadik                28   17   6   5    61   38  +23    57     IFCF Challenger's Cup
3 Divtasvuodno           28   15   6   7    59   37  +22    51
4 FJ Girona              28   10  12   6    36   33   +3    42
5 FJ Gaivuotna           28    8   9  11    38   47   −9    33
6 FC Sankt Leopold       28    8   9  11    37   49  −12    33
7 GS Deatnu              28    4   7  17    19   51  −32    19
8 FJ Varis Skaidi        28    2   7  19    13   58  −45    13     Relegated

Sankt Konrad (SKR) Qualifiers:
IFCF Champions’ League: Kolonial
IFCF Challenger’s Cup: Nomadik, Divtasvuodno, FJ Girona
IFCF Cup Winners’ Cup: Kolonial
IFCF Rising Stars’ Cup: Nomadik
Rushmori Copa de Campeones: Kolonial

[Sankt Konrad]

104th Raidodassi Season - Preview Part I

The Raidodassi is the premier class of football in the Protectorate of Sankt Konrad. Featuring 8 top flight clubs, it was officially founded in 1917, and accepted professional clubs in 1925. Prior to 1917, clubs played in the Sankt Konrad Football Division, and prior to 1896, as part of the Kolonialliga, one of the regional leagues of the Teus Football Association. It is one of the two sanctioned leagues by the Sankt Konrad Football Association (SKFA), the other being the Silbadassi, the second tier. Clubs also compete in the SKFA Cup.

Sankt Konrad was once a colony of the Teus Empire, starting in 1521 when the first Teus ship, also known as the Sankt Konrad, arrived at the island. After achieving independence in 1896, after the fall of the Teus Empire, a new nation was born. Sankt Konrad is populated both by Teus descendants of the colonists (about 10,000 or so) and the Albmoti population, the nomadic people who are the indigenous habitants of the island (about 50,000 or so). A note on names: most Albmoti do not have a surname, and are referred to simply as their first name. Some with more popular names will also use their middle name.

Historically, the league has been dominated by two clubs, Kolonial and Nomadik. The two clubs have a total of 82 league titles and 75 Cup wins between them. However, other clubs have proven able to compete with them, and the league is shaping up to be more and more competitive in the future.

Financially, the league, much like the country, is quite rich. Sankt Konrad has been able to turn quite a profit off of the oil reserves in the seas around it, and the government provides a substantial basic income to all of its 61,600 citizens. Half of the oil profits are shared with the United Republics of Siovanija & Teusland, a part-owner in the ANG holding company that controls the oil due to colonial history, but even half is enough to make the small island substantially rich. Most clubs do not make much money off of gate receipts or television, but instead sponsorship. The national oil company, ANG, desires good relationships with the various communities, and most clubs will have their shirts and other things sponsored by the company. Clubs also receive significant government funding, as sport provides something to do on an island that lacks in that department. The funding is encouraged to go to youth development so that all youth have the opportunity to participate in sport, but there is usually a great deal of excess. Of course, most clubs are also owned by rich oil barons who can afford pretty much anything, particularly Kolonial and Nomadik.

Football is about even in popularity on the island with handball, the de facto national sport. Most clubs are multi-sport operated, and Kolonial and Nomadik’s domination also extends on that side of things. The national handball league, however, runs through the fall and winter months of the year, while football runs in the late spring and summer. Some players at the semi-pro and amateur level will play both sports.

This season will be the second during the new IFCF era. For the first time, clubs from Sankt Konrad will be competing in the various IFCF championships - the Champions’ League, the Challengers’ Cup, and the Cup Winners’ Cup. We look forward to following the performances of our clubs in these competitions. Last season, the title was captured by Kolonial after a hard-fought campaign that saw a three-way title race between the eventual champions, Nomadik and Divtasvuodno. It all came down to the final day, always an exciting proposition. This year, there look to be even more fireworks. The fixture generator has scheduled Kolonial and Nomadik to play each other on the final round of the season, matchday 28 - meaning these two sides could potentially play each other for the title. The two have not met on the final day in 14 years. While anything can happen over the course of the season, it seems like destiny that those 90 minutes at Der Hafen will be important in determining a title winner.

Let’s meet the clubs participating in the next season of the Raidodassi.

Kolonial
Colours: Dark red and gold
Manager: Horst Prantl (man-manager, doesn’t make too many adjustments, plays mind games in the press. Willing to integrate youth players.)
Stadium: Der Hafen (2500)
Nicknames: Der Pioniere, Rot und Geld, Der Fischer (derogatory)
Status: Professional
Last Season: 1st, SKFA Cup winners

Starting XI (4-4-2): GK - Adrian Ganser (26); LB - Simon Husch (23), CB - Rede (27), CB - Nilpa (24), RB - Rasmos (23); LM - Lars Herrer (27), CM - Bastian Kreuzberg (31) (cap), CM - Iskko (26), RM - Hentto (30); CF - Timo Hackl (25), CF - Lavo (19)

Season Preview: Once again champions last season, Kolonial are gunning for another season covered in glory here. There was one change to the squad in the offseason, with Rasmos joining the club from Divtasvuodno, a purchase which means the Pioneers now have two of the best young fullbacks in the league in Rasmos and Simon Husch. Combined with a league-best centre back duo in Rede and Nilpa, the ever-consistent midfield led by Bastian Kreuzberg and arguably the league’s best player Iskko, they have the best squad in the league. Up top, Timo Hackl and Lavo are an incredible duo on their day, and Lavo enters the season as the defending Golden Boot winner. 2 trophies a year is the goal for the club, and they’ll be seriously competitive for both this season.

League Titles: 47 (1926, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
Cup Titles: 41 (1922, 1926, 1932, 1938, 1944, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2020)

History: Founded in 1919 as the Kolonial Athletic Club, Kolonial has risen to become one of the biggest clubs in Sankt Konrad, and its most successful, with 86 domestic honours to date. Kolonial shocked the old establishment of amateur clubs by winning the 1922 SKFA Cup, and when they announced they would turn professional in 1925, it changed the league forever.

Cross-town rivals Nomadik would join them in professionalization shortly afterwards, marking the beginning of the classic rivalry between the two sides. The neighbours dominated the league in the 20s, 30s and 40s, but things were more even in the 50s and early 60s. In 1969, the two rivals faced each other down on the final matchday, tied in the standings. Kolonial smashed the old enemy 8-0 to take the 1969 title. That moment marked a complete shift in power in Sankt Konrad’s top league. Kolonial proceeded to win 10 championships in a row, dominating through their use of tough, physical football. At one point during this time, they even applied to join the league system in Siovanija & Teusland, but were blocked from doing so by the Sankt Konrad FA.

Kolonial’s dominance was such that there was a genuine belief that the club would never again lose a league title. Fans, in fact, protested the SKFA’s decision to stop Kolonial from joining the Teus regional leagues, because of a belief that the league could only be rejuvenated if Kolonial was no longer a part of it. Nomadik, however, heavily opposed Kolonial leaving, fearing that losing out on the derby would greatly harm them as a football club. Kolonial dropped any intentions of leaving the SKFA in the mid-80s, although they refused to participate in the SKFA Cup from 1983-85 in protest.

League dominance followed in the 1980s, as the red & gold won 7 titles in that decade, but the 1990 season would see things begin to change. FJ Gaivuotna won a league and cup double, before repeating the league win in 1991. This gave new hope that the league could be competitive again, and also marked the end of Kolonial’s golden era. They would win 3 more titles in a row after that, but the era of a league monopoly was over. Kolonial would go 7 years before winning the league again: the longest drought in club history. The 2001 team were heavy underdogs, expected to pose little challenge to a Nomadik side looking to take their 7th straight title. Kolonial, however, defeated Nomadik in all 4 derby matches to win the league by 1 point, ending the drought and stopping Nomadik’s run.

That win wouldn’t mark a new decade of dominance for Der Pionier, however, and they would only win 2 other titles in the 2000s. A new era emerged, however, in the 2010s, with players like Rede, Iskko and Bastian Kreuzberg being a key part of a run of 4 titles in a row. After winning the first title in the IFCF era, Kolonial will be looking to make it 3 straight this year, as they inch closer and closer to 50 total titles and a 5th star on their crest.

Club Overview: The club was originally founded by members of the FK Wilhelmstadt football club that wanted to also compete in handball and cricket. The cricket branch ended up surviving separately, eventually affiliating with authorities in Teusland - the Kolonial Cricket Club. The handball and football branches, however, survived as the Kolonial Athletic Club, originally intended for the descendents of the original Teus colonists on the island. Gradually, it also accepted Albmoti members - the first Albmot to play for the club was in 1954. In 1925, the club was at the centre of a major controversy in football, a debate over whether it should remain professional or amateur. While the ‘Old Guard’ clubs of Wilhelmstadt, Hafenarbeiter and the ANG-Mannschaft wanted amateurism, seeing as most of their players worked in the docks or the oil rigs, the ‘New Guard’ of Kolonial and Nomadik wanted to go pro. Eventually, local clubs around the nation joined them, and today, with the exception of the ‘Old Guard’ clubs, every team in the country is either fully professional or semi-pro.

While Kolonial and Nomadik were allies on this fight, that would not last long. History and competition were destined to make them enemies. The 1926 Cup Final, won by Kolonial, saw the beginnings of this, and by the next year’s final between the two, won by Nomadik, the rivalry had been born. There’s no hate quite like that of two teams who compete for the title and the Cup every single year, with almost no interruption, and the ‘New Guard’ live up to the billing. Not only do the fans hate each other, the players usually do as well: full-on brawls were a regular occurance in the 1980s, including the 1988 Cup Final, which saw the match never finished: Kolonial, up 4-0 in the 87th minute when the fight began, were simply awarded the Cup. The two teams have played 53 Cup finals between them, and faced-off with the league on the line on countless occasions. Traditionally, the clubs will play on Independence Day hosted by Nomadik, and on Mittsommer hosted by Kolonial, the other fixtures scattered throughout the season.

Today, Kolonial are one of the two ‘superclubs’ in the league, alongside their forever rival. Some call it the ‘New Guard’ rivalry, for Kolonial fans it’s simply ‘Der Spiel,’ ‘The Game.’ Kolonial can boast a very proud record indeed, as the most successful club in Sankt Konrad’s history: 46 leagues, 40 cups, which their fans love to remind naysayers of. They have no trouble with finances, either: to be fair, no club does in a nation built off oil money, but Kolonial are in a particular calibre of ‘no trouble’ only matched by, of course, Nomadik. As a result, they’re usually able to buy the best of the best players in the league, and have tried to buy players from Teusland in the past - usually to no avail, as few players want to abandon comfort to go to a country that will likely never be described as ‘comfortable.’

Kolonial are perched at the very top of the Raidodassi, and that has made them hated by almost all around them. It has also poised them to be the leaders as the Raidodassi steps forward into the future.

Fans: Kolonial are the second-best supported team on Sankt Konrad, after Nomadik. They draw most of their support from the Teus-speaking population on the island, and this adds a cultural dimension to the rivalry with Nomadik: Teus vs Albmoti, played out this time on a football pitch. It’s not fair to say, however, that every Kolonial fan is Teus: many Albmoti have played and starred for the club, and in Wilhelmstadt itself more and more Albmoti support the red and gold.

As a result of this, however, many fans are positioned on a more Teus nationalist standing, and the flag of Teusland (the Empire, not the modern-day Teusland) and the Teus naval standard are often seen at matches. They don’t want to join up with the United Republics, however: they want the House of Stelburg restored to the imperial throne and a new Teus Empire to be formed. This sentiment isn’t as prevalent today, however, as younger people move away from these interpretations of the past. You’ll still regularly see, however, banners declaring the island ‘loyal,’ or displaying images of old Teus Kaisers. Another favourite is the Sankt Konrad Volunteer Force, a division of soldiers from the island who fought for Teusland in the Great War (1890-95). The legion’s symbols are also often seen at matches, and their songs belted as well - ‘The Sankt Konrad Boys,’ and ‘Soldier of Teusland’ being particular favourites. Much of the fan identity at the club is based around these ideas.

The club’s most-used nickname is Der Pioniere, the pioneers. That was the name given to the original 35 Teus colonists who founded the Wilhelmstadt settlement in 1521, and applied to generations of those who followed after. ‘Rot und Geld’ is also used, a reference to the club’s colours. Rivals, especially Nomadik, call them ‘Der Fischer,’ the fishermen. That’s a reference to the fact that the original Teus settlers preferred fishing to the traditional hunting and reindeer herding of the Albmoti people. ‘Fischer’ became a stereotype for that particular brand of Teus colonist who refused to adapt to their new home.

Kolonial fans have their own name for Nomadik, however - ‘Der Wilde’ - the savages. An outdated callback to past colonial days when the Albmoti people were seen as savages by the Teus, the word has become less and less acceptable over time, and there’s a debate within the fanbase over whether it should be used - especially when the squad contains Albmoti players. Kolonial fans have other ways of poking fun at their rival anyways - implications of a very close relationship between Nomadik supporters and their reindeer (reindeer herding a common pastime in Sankt Konrad) being a particular favourite.

Kolonial’s fans have been praised for their songbook, a mixture of cultural references and football references. The old Teus imperial anthem, ‘Land of Heavenly Bounty,’ is often sung. Some songs relate to both culture and football: ‘47 times and 1521, do da, do da’ a common refrain sung against Nomadik to refer to both the league championships won by the club and the date the first Teus arrived on Sankt Konrad. ‘Here stands a soldier of Teusland,’ declares the aforementioned ‘Soldier of Teusland,’ also a favourite of FC Teussen Stelburg supporters, while ‘We’ll guard his walls forever’ is the refrain of ‘Wilhelm’s Town’. The club have made an effort to stamp out more vulgar songs sung by the support directed at Nomadik, and the rival have done the same with their own fans, but derby day usually brings out the troublemakers anyways. Football-wise, Kolonial fans expect the very best from their team: famously, Kolonial were jeered off the pitch after losing 2-0 to FJ Girona despite winning the league anyways on the final day. Failure is not acceptable, at all, and the fans make sure the players know that. If they perform to expectations, however, as they have for most of Kolonial’s storied history, there’s few fanbases in the world that offer as much love as this one.

As the most successful team in Sankt Konrad football, and the cultural dynamics, Kolonial are by far the most hated team in the league. Divtasvuodno and FJ Girona have had their own spells of competing with Kolonial for titles, while other clubs simply hate them because they’re Kolonial. The only club Kolonial’s fans enjoy a good relationship with is FC Sankt Leopold, another club originally established for Teus-speakers on the island. But beyond that, everyone wants to see Kolonial fail, making their triumphs even sweeter for their fans.

Nomadik
Colours: Navy blue and white
Stadium: Albmotsstadion (2250)
Manager: Volbmar Albe (reputation as a tactical manager, constantly making adjustments in game. Quiet in the press, gives youth players a chance)
Nicknames: The People, The Nomads, min joavku, ‘our team’
Status: Professional
Last Season: 2nd

Starting XI (4-3-3): GK - Lejo (31) (cap); LB - Mavnos (26), CB - Lenne (25), CB - Ovla (26), RB - Rastos (24); LM - Iisku (26), CM - Gappe (20), RM - Vuoitu (24); LW - Aksel (21), RW - Elias Nilse (24), CF - Morten (26)

Season Preview: The Nomads got off to an excellent start last season, which made many believe that it was their year again. A mid-season collapse, punctuated by a 6-1 loss to the old enemy Kolonial, means there’s a bit of making up to do this season. Positives, however, were the performances of many of the club’s young stars - Gappe, Aksel and Elias Nilse most prominent among them. Aksel in particular looks set to be one of the best players in this league for a long time, and was a force on the left side for Nomadik last year. Can they pip Kolonial to the title this year? It’ll be difficult, but certainly possible.

League Titles: 35 (1927, 1928, 1931, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1979, 1981, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2018)
Cup Wins: 34 (1924, 1927, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1967, 1975, 1977, 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019)

History: In 1920, the town of Wilhelmstadt was still predominantly Teus-speaking, but with a growing Albmoti population, especially in the east end. New schools and other services were built for this population, and with them came the Nomadik Athletic Association, playing both handball and football. Named ‘Nomadik’ after the traditional lifestyle of the Albmoti people, the club quickly rose to prominence in the community and the city as a whole, especially after winning the 1924 SKFA Cup. In 1925, at a league meeting debating professionalism vs amateurism, Nomadik’s leaders threw their support behind Kolonial’s proposal to allow pro clubs, and thus ushered in a new era.

Nomadik quickly came to dominate the new league, perfecting the WM formation in the mid-30s that enabled them to capture 5 straight league titles at the end of that decade. The 40s and 50s saw more success for the club, having a monopoly on league and cup titles: 16 of each, putting them ahead of Kolonial in the trophy count. The 60s marked a bit of a decline in fortune, however: the club won 3 in a row in the early part of the decade, but then struggled to compete with Kolonial as other clubs like Divtasvuodno and FJ Girona competed at the top instead. A surprise league win would come in 1968, the remnants of the 62-63-64 winners key to that win, and they nearly won again in 1969 before a final-day collapse. After that, however, it was a dark, dark era.

Nomadik struggled to replace their core pieces in the early 70s, seeing more and more peripheral clubs that had once served simply as development farms for Nomadik rise in prominence, namely the aforementioned Girona and Divtasvuodno. Nomadik were beginning to be displaced in the league, finishing as low as 6th in 1972. Investment started to come in the youth academy, the club realizing its identity of visually beautiful football alone wouldn’t win them titles. Kolonial’s bullying style forced Nomadik to change their system, a change that would eventually reap its rewards. In the short term, Nomadik managed to capture 2 Cups in the mid 70s to not come away completely empty-handed, before returning to the top of the league in 1979. 1981 was another league win for the Nomads, but the 80s quickly became another decade of despair.

With the team’s fortunes falling, the ownership shifted its focus to the handball side of the club, at the time by far the most dominant team in its sport. The stadium was outdated, and a carousel of managers and players weren’t giving any stability. They won the league title in 1987 simply due to luck, Kolonial having a season of re-building, and by 1989 it looked as if the league would simply become Kolonial’s to win every single season. Nomadik squads of the 80s were most known for their penchant for partying instead of winning football matches.

The end of Kolonial’s undisputed reign, however, changed things. FJ Gaivuotna won two titles in spectacular fashion in the early 90s, and this coincided with the first youth class to truly come up under the new system just breaking into the first team. A Cup win in 1991 signalled that Nomadik were back, and while they were still a few years away, the league win in 1995 saw the club back on top for the first time since 1987, and only the 4th time since 1968. They won in dramatic fashion, needing to beat FJ Girona by 5 goals to win the league on goal difference and doing so with 2 goals in the final 15 minutes of the match to win 6-1. The Nomads would follow that up with 5 more titles in a row, and now the question was if the league was Nomadik’s to win every season. Kolonial and a surging FJ Girona would challenge their authority in the early 2000s, but Nomadik still owned that decade with 6 league titles. The early 2010s saw the old guard gradually phasing out, with Kolonial rising back to the top of the league. There’s much to be excited about, however, as Nomadik have some very promising youth players at the moment. The years ahead appear to be set-up for some brilliant clashes between these two old rivals.

Club Overview: Nomadik rose to prominence under a unique set of circumstances in their early history. Founded to support the growing Albmoti community in Wilhelmstadt, they quickly became ingrained in those neighbourhoods, schools and community centres they helped support and build. And at a time when there were few football clubs outside of the capital, Nomadik became the team of choice for many Albmoti people across the island. While that would taper off a bit once other clubs such as FJ Girona, GS Deatnu and Divtasvuodno were founded, you can still find Nomadik supporters’ clubs in most major villages and towns.

Professionalisation in 1925 meant that Nomadik could attract the best of the best Albmoti players from across the island, whereas many other clubs were still only semi-pro. The idea of the football competitions basically being Kolonial vs Nomadik led to a general viewing of Nomadik as ‘our club,’ as the nickname suggests: a representative of the Albmoti people. A majority in Sankt Konrad, but historically less fortunate than their Teus neighbours. And Nomadik’s dominance in the early years made them beloved for their ability to, simply win: finally, the people got one over on the colonists.

Nomadik, despite a decline in fortunes over 2 decades in the previous century, remains today as one of the two ‘superclubs’ of Sankt Konrad football. They regularly challenge for the league and cup titles, and fall into that same calibre of financial power as Kolonial. They are usually able to snap up the best prospects from the peripheral clubs, in addition to their own youth facilities, which were rebuilt in the late 70s and early 80s. Ironically enough, these changes were based on the model of Kolonial, who have had great success in developing players from the Teus population. The club’s identity has often come from playing the game ‘the right way,’ aesthetically pleasing, although that did take a hit as Kolonial muscled their way to dominance in the 70s and 80s. Today, whereas Kolonial’s style is still derived from that win-at-all-costs mentality, Nomadik combines that edge with a desire to stick to their roots and play possession-based football. Yet another area of difference between the two.

In addition to the rivalry with Kolonial, the club haven’t made too many friends with the rest of the league. Some of the more successful of the peripheral clubs, such as FJ Girona and Divtasvuodno, have a competitive edge: Nomadik-Divtasvuodno particularly is a hot-tempered affair. The rest of the clubs don’t like being treated as a farm by Nomadik either. And while they still prefer them to Kolonial, it’s definitely a lesser of two evils scenario. Most fans of other clubs want Kolonial to lose every match they play, and Nomadik to lose every match they play except for the derby. Unfortunately for them, both sides have dominated the league throughout its history, and will look to do so in the future as well.

Nomadik have an interesting few years ahead of them, as they hope to rise back to the top of the league in a new era.

Fans: Nomadik are the most well-supported club in Sankt Konrad, although they are outnumbered in their home town. Wilhelmstadt is, for the most part, Kolonial-dominated, whereas its surrounding towns and villages are strongly pro-Nomadik. A good 30% of the population in other Albmot towns, such as Girona, Deatnu and others also support the club. While some Albmot will make the interesting choice of supporting Kolonial, there is no significant Teus fan presence at Nomadik.

With the large Albmot base of support, there’s a bit of national pride involved here too. The national flag doesn’t fly in the supporters section, instead, the ‘reindeer banner,’ blue and white, flies instead. Nomadik fans don’t have any problem with the Teus in general, and have no issue with the United Republics, but don’t quite get Kolonial’s fascination with the old empire. They’ll counter banners of Kaiser Wilhelm IV with banners of Albmot leaders who worked for independence in the late 1890s, or, from more extreme elements of the fanbase, those members of the Albmoti Resistance Front who worked to sabotage Teus military presence on the island during the Great War.

The club’s main nickname is ‘The Nomads,’ and that is how they are referred to by most media sources. The fans, however, prefer ‘The People,’ a reference to the club representing the Albmoti population. This nickname is hated by other clubs, however, and whenever Kolonial host Nomadik, the home fans hold up a massive banner declaring themselves ‘The Real People.’ Kolonial fans will sometimes call them ‘Der Wilde,’ the savages, a term that has a history and is hated by Nomadik fans. Fans of other Albmoti clubs call them ‘boanda,’ or ‘farmers’ - a derogatory reference to Nomadik stealing the best players of other clubs through history. Nomadik fans call Kolonial ‘The Fishermen,’ a reference to an old stereotype about Teus settlers in Sankt Konrad.

Nomadik are considered to have a very good selection of songs in their repertoire as well, and have a reputation as a particularly loud fanbase. Several songs are based on the cultural tradition of the Albmoti people, with old songs passed along verbally throughout the generations. Then there are the more modern songs as well, either related to football itself or the rivalry with Kolonial. ‘Where’s your Kaiser gone?’ asks one common refrain, the more extreme fans will also sing ‘We blew the Kaiser up,’ a reference to the ARF’s bombing of the docked SMS Kaiser Paulus I during the Great War. Much simpler, there’s also ‘F*** the Kaiser,’ a common refrain against Kolonial. ‘People of the Island’ is a very common song, a call to Albmoti people to rise again as a nation. Another popular song is ‘By the Cliffside,’ a song about life for the Albmoti under the Teus Empire. Football wise, Nomadik fans are known to support the team no matter what. Where Kolonial fans would boo their side off if down 1-0 at the half, Nomadik fans would urge them on. They expect excellence, but are with the team no matter what.

Divtasvuodno
Colours: Green and red
Stadium: ANG-Nordstadion (700)
Manager: Julejus (Does whatever is necessary to get the win, plays mindgames in press, young players have to prove themselves before earning a full-time spot.)
Nicknames: The Bears
Status: Professional
Last Season: 3rd, Cup Runners-up

Starting XI (4-5-1): GK - Fretterat (34) (cap); LB - Herko Nilan (27), CB - Joha (25), CB - Emel (26), RB - Lemet (29); LM - Joel Simit (25), CM - Nuhtte (22), CM - Marten (27), CM - Riibma (24), RM - Nihkul Jorge (25); CF - Niba (27)

Season Preview: What a season it was last year for Divtasvuodno - they were actually top of the league after matchday 20, before falling off a bit in the final weeks of the season. Strong performances and wins against Kolonial and Nomadik during the season, however, will give them some motivation to take into the new campaign. Divtas’ success last season can be traced back to an excellent performance from the backline, particularly Golden Glove winner Fretterat as well as Joha. The loss of Rasmos at right back, sold to Kolonial, will hurt the Bears - but Lemet has been a capable backup for a few years now, and can do a job for them. Up front, they’d probably like a few more goals out of Niba if they are to truly challenge. Look out for the Bears in the Cup as well - they were not at all happy with their performance in that Cup Final last year, a 1-0 loss to Kolonial, and have vowed to their fans to set things straight.

League Titles: 5 (1934, 1943, 1961, 1967, 2011)
Cup Wins: 4 (1928, 1931, 1937, 1976, 1985)

History: One of the oldest football clubs in the nation, Divtasvuodno were founded by a group of Albmoti sportsmen who lived in the town of the same name in 1920. The fourth largest town in the country, Divtasvuodno is located almost directly in the middle of Sankt Konrad. As a result, what was once a winter camp for Albmoti nomads quickly developed into a full-sized town, and the football club too would see a quick rise. Divtasvuodno’s directors opted to support Kolonial and Nomadik in the 1925 league debate over professionalization, becoming a pro club 2 years later in 1927. Just 1 year later, Divtasvuodno would capture the first silverware in the club’s history: a 1928 SKFA Cup triumph, defeating Kolonial in the final 1-0.

More glory was soon to follow for the club, commonly known simply as ‘Divtas’ by fans and foes alike. As the town continued to grow, the club could call on better and better youth products, and Divtas quickly became a powerhouse in the early league. The 1931 squad finished 2nd behind Nomadik by just 1 point, but managed to defeat their rival in the SKFA Cup final to take home a second Cup win in 3 years. The club finished 2nd and 3rd the next two years before finally rising to bring home a first league championship in 1934, beating Kolonial on the second-to-last matchday to secure the win. The squad would go on to win another Cup in 1937, and take one more league championship in 1943 after a year-long dogfight with Nomadik that came down to the final minutes of the final day.

After that, however, there was a bit of a barren spell for Divtas, and in the 50s other clubs, such as FJ Girona, threatened the ecosystem of the Bears being the main competition for Kolonial and Nomadik. GS Deatnu had a small reign at the top as well, but Girona were the main rivals of this time period. The rivalry with Nomadik continued, but wasn’t as heated as the days they were fighting it out for league titles.

The 1961 season saw Divtas go back to the top, however. A younger squad was coming through the ranks, and through new tactical ideas took the league by storm. In that campaign, Divtas lost only 3 games the entire way to take the league title, but just nearly missed a double by losing 4-3 to FC Sankt Leopold in the Cup final. 1961 stands as one of only 2 years since professionalization that neither Kolonial or Nomadik have lifted a trophy. Divtas couldn’t keep it up the next year, however, after losing some good players to Nomadik and Kolonial and seeing other teams catch up to them tactically. They would be back before the end of the decade, however, winning another league in 1967, but they were about to experience a decline.

The late 60s and 70s marked a period of total domination in the league by Kolonial, as they ran rampant each and every year. Divtasvuodno had managed to fill in the spot left by Nomadik’s struggles, and they did so to a degree in the early 70s, coming 2nd 4 straight years. But they were well off Kolonial’s pace, and when Nomadik recovered a bit in the mid 70s, Divtas’ chance to take their place permanently was gone. The Bears would take a Cup win in 1976, an upset win over Kolonial in the semi-final before defeating FJ Varis Skaidi in the final, but that was all to be said.

The 80s saw a resurgence from Divtas as Nomadik struggled again, often battling with FJ Girona for relevance. A Cup final win over Nomadik in 1985 served to re-ignite that particular rivalry, which would set-up for a true conflict in the 90s.

FJ Gaivuotna’s back-to-back championships in 1990-91 proved that the league was still up for grabs, it wasn’t simply Kolonial’s property each and every year. That inspired new belief in clubs such as Divtas, who were looking at a 30 year title drought at this point. The 1993 season saw Divtas reach the Cup semifinal before losing to Nomadik in controversy: supporters will tell you till this day that Nomadik captain Rosen Jorge should have been sent off and a penalty given to Divtas, but it was not to be. Divtas also finished runners-up in the league, 7 points back of Kolonial. When Nomadik dominated the league in the late 90s, it was often Divtas who competed with them the most, as Kolonial looked to recharge their squad. It was a fiesty rivalry, with the two clubs brawling on the pitch twice in that era. Still, however, Divtas came away empty handed.

The title drought continued into the 2000s, and by the beginning of the 2011 campaign, Divtas were 44 years removed from their last league title. What followed was a magical season for their supporters, however, with a squad not expected to be in the running for the title surprising everyone. They defeated Kolonial and Nomadik thrice each, and ended up beating Nomadik by 2 points to capture their 5th league title. There were great celebrations after that famous victory, supporters tearing up in joy at the drought being over. With a new era of Raidodassi football underway, Divtas supporters will hope that they’ll be celebrating again soon.

Club Overview: Divtasvuodno as a town is quite different to other settlements in Sankt Konrad. You’ve got Wilhelmstadt, the bustling port and centre of pretty much everything in our country. Then there’s Girona, Deatnu and the several other towns but along the coastline. Divtasvuodno, however, is located inland, a centre for Albmoti nomads throughout the centuries before developing into a town of its own. Where other towns on Sankt Konrad are more laid back, Divtasvuodno is a bit more bustling, with a character typical of a city much larger: everyone has somewhere to be.

That character has transferred over to the club, a bit, as well. They were quick to support the professionalization of the league, viewing it as the main route for themselves to compete at the top. Divtasvuodno sides have characteristically been pretty direct: no time to waste looking pretty, let’s score goals and get the job done. While that helped the club achieve success early in their history, you could also argue it held them back during the title drought, as new tactical advances often saw Divtas left a bit behind. To their credit, however, Divtas have always been challengers at the top, never really experiencing a true decline in fortunes.

The club are often referred to as the Bears, thanks to the polar bear pictured on their crest. There is a polar bear population that lives close to Divtasvuodno, and the animal has been adopted as a symbol for the town and club. There is a competitive rivalry with Nomadik, the two clubs representing an opposite in styles as well as being competitors for success in the past. FJ Girona is another rival, a constant competitor for the role of lead underdog in the league. Of course, they hate Kolonial too, but Divtas are one of the few clubs that might just hate Nomadik a little bit more.

Fanbase: The fans of Divtasvuodno are well-known for sticking with their team through thick and thin, even throughout their long title drought. Fans of smaller clubs might say that at least they’d won titles, but Divtas had managed to throw away chances spectacularly at times. No matter the crushing loss, however, Bears fans would be back next week, home or away.

Divtasvuodno’s fanbase stays out of the type of political fandom seen at Kolonial and Nomadik, however, there is a great deal of civic pride involved. For every stereotype of residents of Divtas being cold and distant, they really do get behind this team. On matchday, the streets will be empty during the game, and local businesses often close for the 2 hour window, except, of course, for pubs and restaurants. The fanbase appreciates players that get the job done, and are more likely to applaud a rough tackle than a great pass. No quarter is given to players from other teams, and those who once played for Divtas but later joined Nomadik or Kolonial can expect to be heavily jeered for the rest of their careers. They know they can’t compete with the big 2 every year, but don’t want to be a stepping stone either.

Divtasvuodno have a reputation for being a tough place to play away matches, as the support can get quite loud and into the game. Other teams’ players will be jeered every time they touch the ball, particularly Kolonial or Nomadik players. Song wise, the club’s anthem is ‘Divtas the Bold,’ with club-adapted lyrics added to a tune common in the country. The fans aren’t renowned for their creativity, with most chants something along the lines of ‘Come on Divtas’ or ‘Come on Bears.’ There are no 4-minute renditions of historic songs like you might see at Kolonial or Nomadik, but in a way, the bluntness perfectly fits the club.

FJ Girona
Colours: Light blue and white
Stadium: Girona-Siliju (900)
Manager: Duomis Lejo (Loves players who work hard, a bit chatty in the press, prefers club’s homegrown talent)
Nicknames: The Skyblues, The Watchmen
Status: Professional
Last Season: 4th

Starting XI (3-5-2): GK - Mavrres (28); CB - Eiven (27), CB - Mades Viktor (30), CB - Jovnna (32) (cap); LWB - Juoksa (26), RWB - Jorge (26), LM - Filpa Iiskku (24), CM - Sappa (26), RM - Gahppa (23); CF - Ailun Rede (27), CF - Simut (24)

Season Preview: Girona struggled a bit at times last season, particularly with putting the ball in the back of the net - and they drew more than any other team in the division. In the end, it was still enough to secure them 4th place and an IFCF spot, but they’ll be expecting a bit more this season. The biggest positive was their defending - which was helped by excellent midfield control led by Sappa, and the brilliant performances of the captain Jovnna in leading the backline. Duomis Lejo has his side fighting for every ball, and that’s exactly the way they’ll need to play to find success in this league.

League Titles: 4 (1954, 2002, 2010, 2013)
Cup Wins: 3 (1951, 1958, 1983)

History: The second largest town in Sankt Konrad, Girona, was a bit off the pace of others at the beginning of pro football on the island: while most clubs were founded in the early and mid 20s, FJ Girona’s founding date sits as 1931. There had previously been an FK Girona, who in fact won an SKFA Cup in 1920. That club had been operated by workers of the ANG (holding company in control of the oil fields in the country, jointly owned by the Sankt Konrad & United Republics governments) and was committed to amateurism, supporting the Old Guard clubs at the 1925 league meetings.

By 1931, however, some younger members of the club realized that the only way to compete in the future was through professionalization, and they split off from FK Girona, forming their own club FJ Girona. FK Girona would quickly lose its status in the town to the upstarts, and folded within 10 years. The new club was more representative of the town of Girona as a whole, a majority Albmoti town, and wore the colours light blue and white, the national colours of the Albmot. The light blue was also chosen to represent the sea, which Girona lies beside.

There wasn’t much in the way of early promise for Girona. They struggled to adapt to the new league, which was quickly becoming a duopoly of Kolonial and Nomadik. Some clubs were able to challenge this reign, but FJ Girona were not one of them. They were still new as a football club, and still figuring out their identity through much of the 30s and early 40s. By the end of the 1940s, however, things were changing, and thanks to a blend of strong young homegrown players and great defensive tactics, Girona were becoming a rising team in the league.

In 1950, Girona managed a second-place finish in the league, kicking off a successful decade for the club. The 1951 season saw Girona back down to 3rd, but taking home their first SKFA Cup win. Girona defeated Kolonial in the semifinal before shocking Nomadik in a 3-0 final win to earn their first piece of silverware. The club carried over their strong performances over the next few years, and in 1954 managed to capture the league title, only the 3rd time a club other than the big 2 had won. The 1954 campaign saw Girona defeat Kolonial in 3 of 4 matches and Nomadik in 4 of 4 for a spectacular record and league title win. One further piece of silverware came for Girona’s ‘golden team,’ as they captured another SKFA Cup in 1958, beating Kolonial 2-1 in the final.

The 1960s, however, saw a decline in fortune for Girona, who started to fall a bit behind in the pack and were selling off their best players to Nomadik regularly. There was a worry that the other Girona-based club, Davvenasti, would overtake them in standing. And while Kolonial’s complete domination of the league throughout the 70s hurt pretty much every team, Girona were particularly impacted, not even able to pose Kolonial the slightest challenge. The club languished at the bottom of the Raidodassi for most of this period, at one point even dropping to the second tier Silbadassi. Davvenasti winning a league and cup double in 1980 was also trouble for the Skyblues.

However, FJ Girona managed to pull themselves together in the early 80s, and a cinderella Cup run in 1983 helped bring them back. Drawn away to Kolonial in the second round, Girona managed to beat Kolonial at Der Hafen for the first time in 23 years, a major upset that gave Girona a great chance of winning the Cup. Nomadik were also eliminated before the final, setting up a final between Girona and their major rivals Davvenasti. Girona would prevail 4-2 to capture their first trophy in 25 years.

After that, Girona returned to regular competition in the late 80s and early 90s. And while Kolonial continued to dominate the league at this point, more and more Girona finished as high as second, in 1988 particularly coming close to taking the league title. The 90s were a struggle, as it was for every team in the league not named Kolonial or Nomadik: the superclubs’ hold on the league continued to grow. Girona were able to rebound better than most clubs, however, and shocked the establishment with a league title win in 2002, the first for the club since 1954. Since then, Girona have maintained their reputation as a tough challenge from time to time in the league, winning titles in 2010 and 2013. Girona will be looking to push on in this new era, and hope again to upset the powerful Big 2.

Club Overview: Girona are considered to be one of the ‘pack,’ those clubs that consistently are chasing Kolonial and Nomadik and have, in some years, been able to get the better of them. While several teams have come and gone from this grouping, Girona have been usual suspects for the better part of 5 decades now, and have, in fact, the 4th most silverware amongst Sankt Konrad’s professional clubs. The club have always managed to rebound from any decline in fortunes, and come back stronger than ever.

Girona is the second biggest town on Sankt Konrad, and it’s home to two football clubs: FJ Girona and Davvenasti (North Star), who play out the Girona derby. The rivalry reached its peak in the 1980s, when Davvenasti had an excellent side, and isn’t as hot now, with Davvenasti currently in the second division. There’s a competitive rivalry with Divtasvuodno, who were the other big challengers to the Big 2 through much of the league’s history, and therefore direct rivals with Girona oftentimes. Then, naturally, there’s Nomadik and Kolonial. Girona and Wilhelmstadt aren’t too far apart, which would create a rivalry anyways, but in the context of two hated clubs who win almost every year, it’s amplified. Older Girona fans hate Nomadik more, as Nomadik commonly raided Girona for players in earlier days, while younger Girona fans hate Kolonial more, due to their domination of the league in recent years. Either way, they aren’t friendly at all, and clashes between them are usually full of fireworks.

Girona will be hoping to expand their profile in the coming years, having a solid foundation to build on. The league titles of 2010 and 2013 give hope that the league isn’t just the property of Kolonial or Nomadik, and that other teams can challenge and win. Girona will be looking to continue that in the coming years.

Fans: Girona are the third-best supported club in the nation, after the big two clubs, and are located in the second-biggest town in the nation. Girona is heavily Albmoti, and while a good 25% of those support Nomadik, Girona are the biggest team in town. There are some Teus in Girona, and it’s mostly a 50/50 split between Kolonial and Girona.

Girona doesn’t get involved in the explicitly nationalist politics of Kolonial, or the similar brand seen at Nomadik. There’s more community pride here, the team being one for Girona specifically rather than representing a cultural group. The fanbase identifies with hardworking players who will leave everything out on the pitch after 90 minutes, because they know that’s what it takes to beat the top two. Star players are admired, but the gritty players are adored. Girona fans are considered to be very knowledgeable of the game, and appreciative even of other team’s stars, with even Kolonial and Nomadik players sometimes receiving applause from the home crowd after a great performance.

The club’s main nickname is the Skyblues, named after the colour of their shirts. Another nickname less commonly used is the Watchmen. Girona is home to the oldest lighthouse on Sankt Konrad, and the building has become a symbol for the town, featured on the club crest. The Watchmen thus refers to this heritage.

Girona’s fans aren’t really the loudest in the league, but they do have a fair number of chants, mostly related to football itself rather than anything cultural. ‘The ‘54 Boys’ is a song honouring the 1954 league title winners, naming each member of that squad and recounting their accomplishments. Other than that, chants mostly celebrate current and former players or teams important to Girona’s history. Girona fans are, as mentioned, generally supportive of the team through thick and thin, and don’t have the same demand for winning every single year that Kolonial and Nomadik do. They do expect, however, to challenge, and simply want to see their players work hard in every game.

We'll be back soon with Part II of our season preview!

[Sankt Konrad]

104th Raidodassi Season - Preview Part II

FJ Gaivuotna
Colours: Purple and white
Stadium: Gaivuotna-Siliju (450)
Manager: Elias Lemet (Former youth director at the club, is flexible tactically and adjusts based on his team’s needs. Quiet in the press.)
Nicknames: The Seals, The Conquerors (1990-91 side only)
Status: Professional
Last Season: 5th

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): GK - Migos Joel (28); LB - Ealja (25), CB - Leaifa Nilan (26), CB - Heike Ola (22), RB - Jorgen (25); CM - Bierill (26) (cap), CM - Mellet Milot (25), LW - Duongi (27), CAM - Oavan (28), RW - Siigur (23); CF - Indu Herko (25)

Season Preview: It was a tricky year at times for Gaivuotna last season - they struggled to get things going offensively, with getting the ball out wide being a problem for the club - Indu Herko simply didn’t get enough service all season. The club’s strength is in the middle of the park, Bierill one of the better midfielders in the division at controlling the play. They’ve reportedly made some adjustments tactically that will see the fullbacks Ealja and Jorgen get forward more, which should be a benefit to them this season. Young Siigur should also be a bit better-adjusted this year, and the club will be looking to push for an IFCF place. Eyes might be more focused on the academy team, however, where Johan Ertno is considered to be one of the top prospects in national history - a great, technically gifted midfielder.

League Titles: 2 (1990, 1991)
Cup Wins: 2 (1930, 1990)

History: Gaivuotna, the southernmost town on Sankt Konrad, had always been a football hotbed, and thus it came as no surprise when FJ Gaivuotna were founded to compete in the Raidodassi in 1922. Gaivuotna, a town mainly populated by Albmoti people setting down from the nomadic lifestyle, was initially capable of supporting the team with entirely homegrown players. They were quickly able to compete for league titles in the early years, but always found themselves bridesmaids to the big 2.

In 1925, when the league debated professionalization, Gaivuotna’s members were torn down the middle. Some wanted to go along with the new order along with Kolonial and Nomadik, but others wanted to stick with the club’s tradition. In the end, Gaivuotna voted to remain an amateur club, siding with FK Wilhelmstadt and Hafenarbeiter in the debate. The amateur side lost out, however, and only through arguing that the club had been competitive with Kolonial and Nomadik were they granted membership in the Raidodassi. They were told, however, that they needed to become professional within 10 years.

The club struggled to adapt to the new system, seeing more and more of their homegrown talent leave to go play for pro clubs and make more money. The 1930 season, however, gave Gaivuotna a magic moment. They knocked out Divtasvuodno in the semifinals before facing off against Kolonial in the Cup final, winning the game 2-0 through a defensive masterclass. That Gaivuotna side would be the final amateur team to win the SKFA Cup. Gaivuotna became fully professional in 1934, one year before the Raidodassi’s deadline.

It was a period of many, many years in the wilderness, however, for the Seals. They bounced between divisions throughout the 40s, 50s and 60s, surging briefly in the 70s before falling back again. In 1978, they were bought by a local businessman, and things began to change. The new ownership brought back the club’s old values of developing talent from its own area, and heavily invested in youth and training facilities to facilitate this. Soon, Gaivuotna became a desired destination for youth players from all areas of the island. A golden generation was brewing.

The 1990 season stands as one of the most important in the Raidodassi’s history. At that time, Kolonial had captured 16 titles in 20 years, absolutely dominating the league. There was a genuine worry that the final table would always read 1. Kolonial each year, and that every other team would simply compete for the scraps. Introducing new purple kits for the year (previous colours included anything on the rainbow, including eras of yellow, red, pink and neon green), and with a starting XI made up of 9 players from the town of Gaivuotna itself, the Seals took the league by storm. An opening-day 4-1 win over Kolonial set the tone, and Gaivuotna would almost never look back as they took the league title. They also defeated Nomadik in the SKFA Cup final to become the first club outside the big 2 to complete a league and Cup double since professionalization. Gaivuotna proved there was still a way to win in this league, and that any club, given the proper method and investments, could eventually knock off Kolonial and Nomadik. Gaivuotna’s dream team earned another league title in 1991, this time chasing Kolonial for most of the year before winning their last 6 in a row, including away to Kolonial, to take the title back-to-back years.

Purple became the permanent colour of the club after that, and the team that had for so many years lacked an identity now had one forever. Fans of the club will refer to that early 90s side as ‘the Conquerors,’ for their takeover of the league. FJ Gaivuotna changed the league forever, as more and more clubs began investment in youth and developing their own club identities. Since then, the league has become much more balanced, and Kolonial no longer have a strangle-hold on the title.

While FJ Gaivuotna have not won a major trophy since the triumph of 1991, they have become a permanent part of the pack directly below the big 2, and have retained their ability to punch above their weight. They always seem to have a role to play, and with a strong crop of youth players coming through at the moment, that role might be about to get a lot bigger.

Club Information: Gaivuotna as a town is hard to define, and that may have led to its club’s long identity crisis. For many years, Gaivuotna was simply a winter encampment for nomads, and it was even abandoned for some years. Once the nomads began to settle down due to the government’s policies of the early 1900s directed at rebuilding national culture, Gaivuotna became a popular landing spot, the town located on the south coast, and a bit sheltered from some of the harsh weather other parts of the country can face in the winter.

As the only town on the south coast, a real ‘do it ourselves’ mentality grew in the town, and that did carry over to the football club. Gaivuotna came to oppose professionalization in 1925, then went out and became the final amateur club to win the Cup 5 years after. In the end, they only turned pro after the Raidodassi board threatened that the club would be expelled from the league if they did not. This contributed to the mentality of us against the world at the club.

For many years, however, this was the only defining characteristic. Gaivuotna sides of the 50s and 60s were downright dreadful, as they brought any player willing to play for them in and abandoned their historical devotion to local talent. One match in the late 60s recorded an attendance of exactly 0, and interest in the club was low throughout the 70s even as things improved somewhat. A local consortium, however, saved the club and brought it back to its roots in the early 1980s, which culminated in the title wins. Today, FJ Gaivuotna are an institution in their community, and have captivated the town.

The club went through various identities in its history. The original kit was entirely blue, at one point adding a green stripe. In the 50s Gaivuotna played in pink, but this was hated by fans. In a period of five years, the club went from pink to yellow to red and a truly abhorrent shade of neon green before going back to blue. The pink reappeared in the late 70s, but new ownership were quick to try and get a new identity. Blue was the colour again for much of the 80s, but it was deemed too similar to Nomadik’s shade of blue. In 1990, a new purple kit was debuted. It became an instant hit with fans, and became immortalized when the club won the league that season.

Gaivuotna’s biggest rivals are the big 2, Kolonial and Nomadik. Nomadik are the traditional enemy, but it is much less heated than Nomadik’s rivalries with Girona and Divtasvuodno. Gaivuotna fans want to beat Nomadik desperately, and dislike the fact that Nomadik have been able to take players from them in the past. However, Gaivuotna fans still prefer them to Kolonial. The Kolonial rivalry stems from Kolonial’s insistence that Gaivuotna professionalize, even going so far as to officially protest the result of the 1930 SKFA Cup final and demand a replay, arguing several Gaivuotna players were ineligible. The request was declined by the SKFA, but the hate remained for Gaivuotna fans. Kolonial are despised by Gaivuotna, not for anything political like the Kolonial-Nomadik rivalry but simply this history of being disregarded by Kolonial. For many Gaivuotna fans, the best part of 1990 wasn’t winning the league, but was instead beating Kolonial 5 times between league and Cup fixtures. The Gaivuotna board even retains this rivalry, refusing to sell players to Kolonial. Even Nomadik and Kolonial have done business in the past, but Gaivuotna refuse. Matches between the two are always heated, and despite Kolonial fans claiming they don’t care about Gaivuotna, the passion is always present.

Fanbase: Gaivuotna’s fans were, for a long time, derided as fickle, but much of that comes down to the club’s incompetence for much of its history. Kolonial fans in particular love to bring up the 0 attendance game in the mid-60s, but those days are long gone and Gaivuotna are one of the best-supported teams in the league.

Gaivuotna’s fans can devolve into some of the politicization of the Big 2 when it comes to their matches against Kolonial, attacking the club in any way they can. This was a bigger thing in the 70s and 80s, when Gaivuotna supporters didn’t have much to cheer on the pitch. In one particular famous incident, Gaivuotna fans burned a large Teus imperial flag in their section, causing Kolonial supporters to storm into the away end and spark a brawl. Since the 90s, however, this blemish has died away for the most part, and while some extremists will ‘have a go’ when Kolonial come to town, today the focus is more on football, with a few exceptions.

Gaivuotna’s fans travel well, usually filling up their away allocation, and have a long songbook, much of which is just popular music from the 60s and 70s. When your team is getting pumped almost every away day, there’s not much else to sing about. The two most famous songs are ‘The 1930 Boys,’ about the 1930 Cup winning squad, and ‘Conquerors,’ the anthem dedicated to the 1990-91 squads. ‘Conquerors’ is usually used particularly to rile up Kolonial, with fans adding a chant of ‘F*** the Kaiser’ at the end of the song. That particular refrain, commonly heard from Nomadik fans as well, is another favourite of the club’s supporters. Another common anti-Kolonial chant is ‘We knocked the fischers off their perch,’ a reference to Gaivuotna’s titles marking the end of Kolonial’s total dominance. Other chants directed at clubs other than the big 2 usually reference Gaivuotna’s success over them, a particular favourite being: ‘We’ve got a double, haven’t you?’

Gaivuotna fans have shedded their reputation for not caring about the club, and instead are seen as some of the best fans in the league today.

FC Sankt Leopold
Colours: Black and gold
Stadium: Klippenrand (300)
Manager: Klemens Bischoff (very attack-minded manager, willing to give young players first-team opportunities, talkative in media but not hostile)
Nicknames: The Eagles, Schwarz und Geld, Kolonial B (derogatory)
Status: Professional
Last Season: 6th

Starting XI (4-4-2): GK - Moritz Prantl (28); LB - Erhardt Altermann (25), CB - Per Scholl (23), CB - Ingo Stahl (26), RB - Arne Glockner (22); LM - Eric Hauer (29), CM - Indu (32), CM - Darbmu Gradl (19), RM - Carl Weis (27) (cap); CF - Rudolf Klempner (25), CF - Lagon (26)

Season Preview: The Eagles had an excellent season last year, remaining competitive throughout most of the season for that valued #4 position. It fell apart a bit in the end, with Sankt Leopold finishing in 6th, but they also reached a cherished SKFA Cup semifinal. Perhaps the best move of the offseason for the club was keeping Per Scholl in black and gold - there had been plenty of rumours he’d trade in Sankt Leopold for Kolonial, but the league winners didn’t pull the trigger this summer. It’s one of the facts of Sankt Konrad football that the only step remaining for Scholl is to Kolonial, unless he attempts to become a rare trailblazer in Siovanija & Teusland, his ancestral land. For Sankt Leopold this season, expect another all-out effort in the Cup, and perhaps with more inspiration in the league as well after last season.

League Titles: 0
Cup Wins: 4 (1939, 1961, 1988, 2007)[/b]

History: Football has been played in Sankt Leopold ever since the town came into existence, perched on a cliff above the sea on the east coast of Sankt Konrad. Founded as a summer resort town for ANG company workers from Wilhelmstadt, the first club in the town was actually the amateur ANG-Mannschaft for those company workers. This club was very successful in its day, winning 3 league titles and 2 cups in the early 1920s. FC Sankt Leopold was founded in 1924 for those who lived in the town and were not employed by ANG, and after the ANG-Mannschaft folded in 1925 due to the professionalization debates, the Eagles became the only show in town.

Sankt Leopold took the side of Kolonial and Nomadik in the debates, which ended up allowing them to become one of the first members of the Raidodassi. The club didn’t have much early success in the league, being more of a ‘Cup team’, reaching the final 3 years in a row from 1937-39. While the first two finals were losses, they defeated Nomadik 2-1 in the 1939 SKFA Cup Final to win their first piece of silverware.

That tradition of going all-out in the Cup would continue, as the club quickly became a regular in at least the semi-final stage, losing 4 finals between 1939 and 1961, the time of their second triumph. That was a 4-3 win over Divtasvuodno to deny them a double, after also having a strong season in the league, finishing 3rd. Years in the wilderness followed, however, and the club languished in the second division for most of the 1970s and early 80s.

The club returned to their roots in the 1988 season, the class of the Silbadassi as they stormed their way to an undefeated season and promotion. In addition, they defeated FJ Girona 4-1 in the two-legged semifinal to advance to a Cup final where they were heavy underdogs against Kolonial. The Eagles shocked everyone, however, and won the final 2-1 for their first Cup in 27 years.

Sankt Leopold were inspired by that win, and have spent the majority of their time since then in the top division. Another Cup win would come in 2007, as the Eagles beat Nomadik in the final. Usually mediocre in the league, Sankt Leopold are a team none will take lightly in the Cup.

Club Overview: Sankt Leopold has been voted several times the nicest town on Sankt Konrad, located on a cliff overlooking the ocean on the east coast. It has usually served as a summer resort, and the population swells in June and July, but there is a permanent population, about 60% Teus and 40% Albmoti.

Sankt Leopold is, thus, a decently laid-back town, and the club has followed that tradition as well, never showing too much ambition and happy with their lot in life. Football-wise, the club has traditionally focused on attacking football, but in recent years have developed a few prospects.

The biggest local rival is GS Deatnu, with whom the club contest the East Coast derby. This is the fiercest rivalry for Sankt Leopold, with the two towns separated by only about 30 minutes along the National Ring Road. This is a rivalry based on proximity and football-related reasons. Sankt Anna, a village about 40 minutes further south, is another rival, but FC Sankt Anna have been in the second tier for most of their existence. Kolonial are an ally, the two clubs sharing a similar cultural background. For that reason, Sankt Leopold also harbour a fierce dislike of Nomadik.

Fanbase: Sankt Leopold’s fanbase are considered quite loyal to the club, and that has always been the case throughout the club’s history. The Albmoti population of the town usually supports Nomadik, while the Teus are all-in on the Eagles.

Historically, the club have had a close relationship with Kolonial, and many season ticket holders at Sankt Leopold will also make the trip over to Wilhelmstadt for a few matches per year. Sankt Leopold fans will also fly the Teus imperial flag, but it’s less common than at Kolonial, and for the most part the club aren’t involved in some of the politicization of football that goes on elsewhere. This relationship has led to derision from other club’s fans, however, often referring to them as ‘Kolonial B,’ or accusing them of caring more about Kolonial than their own club.

The club are nicknamed the Eagles, from a newspaper article about the 1939 Cup winning side describing them as ‘soaring like eagles’ in the final match against Nomadik. Other nicknames are the schwarz und geld, black and gold, based off of the colours of the club’s kit. The club crest taken from the town of Sankt Leopold’s crest, with the writing of ‘FC Sankt Leopold’ and 1924, the year of the club’s founding, added.

Sankt Leopold fans often sound similar to Kolonial in song. Many of the classic traditional Teus songs sung at Der Hafen are also heard at Klippenrand, a particular favourite being ‘Soldier of Teusland’ as well. As mentioned, however, Sankt Leopold are less prone to the devotion to the old Empire seen at Kolonial: you won’t hear anything about the Kaisers here, and beyond a bit of flag-waving the fan culture here is quite different. There are songs honouring each of the four Cup-winning sides, the 1988 one being a particular favourite of the fanbase. Fans here respect gritty, hardworking players and those who leave it all out on the pitch are sure to become fan favourites rather quickly.

GS Deatnu
Colours: Black and white
Stadium: Deatnu-Siliju (750)
Manager: Ivvar (former youth team manager, trusts in youth, willing to go for it against big clubs. Humble in the press)
Nicknames: The Hammers, the Puffins
Status: Professional
Last Season: 7th

Starting XI (4-4-2): GK - Speaidna (20); LB - Dearsu (25), CB - Bancu (28), CB - Ovlin (25), RB - Jagat (24); LM - Morten Eiven (25), CM - Joel (25), CM - Benne (23), RM - Ertno Viktor (27); CF - Bannos (23), CF - Njugul (32) (cap)

Season Preview: It was a tough year for GS Deatnu last year - they were involved in the relegation battle for far too long, considering the favourites for the drop were a semi-pro club. The performances of Bannos and Jagat were welcome, the two youngsters enjoying good seasons. But elsewhere, it was tough viewing for Hammers supporters. Ivvar replaced Oge mid-season last year, and brought a bit of fresh air - particularly his willingness to go at the teams above them through a few shifts in Deatnu’s system. But without significant steps up from almost everyone in the squad, they’ll be fighting relegation again this season.

League Titles: 1 (1959)
Cup Wins: 3 (1940, 1945, 2017)

History: Deatnu as a town had never adopted football as a common sport. The spiritual capital of the Albmoti people, for the most part the town only competed in handball leagues. In 1923, however, members of the local GS athletic association decided to expand their operation to include football, and GS Deatnu was born. The club were firmly on the side of Kolonial and Nomadik during the professionalization debates, having already gone pro on the handball side of things a few years prior.

GS Deatnu struggled, however, to adapt in the new league. Football was mostly seen as an activity for the club’s handball players to keep fit in the summer months, and the club languished in the second tier for most of the 30s. In 1938, however, the club decided that it was a poor mark on them to have the main football club of the 3rd biggest town in the country be a national joke. Investment followed, and new players were brought in.

Immediate success followed, with the club capturing their first SKFA Cup title in 1940. Early 1940s GS Deatnu sides regularly competed at the top of the league, finishing 2nd place in 1942 by only 2 points. Another Cup triumph would follow in 1945, but things fell apart for Deatnu after that. Most of the players that had been a part of the squads that had achieved success either retired or were past their prime, and the club faded back in obscurity in the late 40s. Investment in the early 50s was most often a failure, and GS Deatnu were in risk of permanent obscurity.

Smart purchases after the 1958 season saw Deatnu assemble an all-star squad of players who had starred for clubs other than Kolonial and Nomadik. Luckily for the club, everything gelled together, and they captured their first and only league title on the final day, beating Divtasvuodno 4-2 to secure the title by 3 points over Nomadik.

That generation of players competed at the top for another few seasons before going their separate ways, but were unable to win any other silverware. Complacency set in with the ownership, believing they could simply mix-match players and it would work, because it did in 1959. This mentality held the club back for many years, and lasted into the late 1970s. Deatnu fell further and further behind at this time, becoming the poster child for big spending not necessarily working out. There was a lack of patience at this time, with the average player only last a year and a half at the club. The Hammers also went through 6 managers in 4 years at one point.

In the 1980s, a new campaign was created to bring greater stability to the club. The scouting department was much better-funded, as were the club’s training facilities. The club were promoted from the second tier in 1987, and have not been relegated since, now able to compete at the highest level.

While Deatnu have not won a league title since 1959, they were able to end the longest trophyless drought in the league in a magical 2017 Cup campaign. Going down 3-0 in the away leg against Kolonial, they managed to come back to win at home 3-0 before taking the tie on penalties, heading to the final against Nomadik. Deatnu would win that one 5-3 in a wide-open contest, taking home their first trophy in 58 years and first Cup win since 1945.

Deatnu are in interesting positioning for the future: not a traditional middleweight, but with the potential to be much more. They are certainly a club to watch.

Club Overview: Founded as the football department to a handball club, GS Deatnu struggled with identity in their earliest years. Deatnu is the oldest Albmoti town on Sankt Konrad, and served as a spiritual centre through the centuries, with temples still dedicated to the old gods today. It has been described as the ‘spiritual capital’ of the Albmoti people, and rose to become the 3rd largest town on the island.

The traditionalists in Deatnu, however, saw football as something foreign, brought over by the Teus. Handball, historically the game of the Albmoti, was much preferred. Over time, this idea generally fell away, but even today the Deatnu handball section is more successful and more popular than the football section.

Deatnu is located on the east coast of the country. The club’s nickname is the Hammers, which comes from the hammer present on their logo. This hammer, a design of that of Horagalles, the Albmoti God of Thunder, is also on the town of Deatnu’s coat of arms, as the main temple in the town is dedicated to Horagalles. The club are also known as the puffins due to their black and white kits, puffin colonies being common in the area around Deatnu as well.

The main rivalry is with FC Sankt Leopold, who are the closest town on the east coast to Deatnu. It also brings about elements of Teus vs Albmoti rivalries, but nowhere near as intense as the Kolonial-Nomadik rivalry. This rivalry has usually mainly been about the two towns, Deatnu the historic, traditional capital vs Sankt Leopold, the newer town built by Teus migrants. It’s also about football, as the two clubs have been on a similar level for most of their history.
In addition, Deatnu aren’t the biggest fans of Kolonial, and have a hatred for Nomadik. People in Deatnu hate Wilhelmstadt in general, seeing as the two towns were competing to be named capital of the independent country in 1896.

Fanbase: Deatnu have a loyal following from their fanbase, although it isn’t as big as any of the major clubs. In addition, a decent amount of the population of the town supports Nomadik, as the biggest Albmoti club in the league. Deatnu fans are known for their devotion to the team, even through all the ups and downs they’ve experienced in recent years.

Deatnu fans hate Sankt Leopold the most, as the local rivals, with Nomadik a close second. The East Coast Derby is decently heated, perhaps not to the level of rivalries like Kolonial-Nomadik, Nomadik-Divtasvuodno or Kolonial-Gaivuotna, but heated nonetheless. Deatnu fans will taunt their rivals with chants of ‘You’re just Kolonial B,’ a reference to Sankt Leopold’s close friendship with Kolonial. There’s also a chant of ‘Stand up if you’ve won the league,’ as Sankt Leopold have never won the Raidodassi title.

Other songs include ‘Deatnu, Hey!,’ the common anthem of the town’s sports teams. Some traditional old Albmoti songs have made their way into the fans’ songbook as well, but for the most part Deatnu fans will sing about their club or the match. Deatnu fans are the type who appreciate skill, and have given applause to visiting players who put in a particularly great performance in the past. Deatnu supporters are loyal, but they aren’t like Divtasvuodno who jeer every single opposing player.

Deatnu’s fans are respected for their loyalty to the club and team no matter what, and are an example for clubs across the league.

Davvenasti
Colours: Dark blue and white
Stadium: Girona-Siliju (900)
Manager: Salmo (pragmatic manager, more of a motivator than a tactician, although has been able to surprise in the past. Humble in the press)
Nicknames: The Stars
Status: Professional
Last Season: 1st (Silbadassi)

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): GK - Idga (33) (cap), LB - Annja (25), CB - Doffa (27), CB - Jusse (26), RB - Abrran (23), CM - Karral (24), CM - Ailu Dure (26), LW - Birki (28), CAM - Joret Hanno (22), RW - Aron (21), CF - Ruigi (24)

Season Preview: The promoted side, Davvenasti took an expected Silbadassi championship last year with a brilliant defensive record. The path was marked by the fullbacks, Annja and Abrran, who were dominant, as well as strong performances from Jusse. Ailu Dure also proved a capable holding midfielder. Up front, Birki was expected to be a leader for the team, but he had a bit of a down year and it was actually young Aron who picked up the slack. Back in the Raidodassi, expect Davvenasti to be fighting for their place in the division - but perhaps very well suited to holding onto it.

League Titles: 1 (1980)
Cup Wins: 4 (1980, 2005, 2008, 2015)

History: The town of Girona, the second largest on Sankt Konrad, was home to two football clubs in the early years of the Raidodassi - FJ Girona, and FK Girona. FJ Girona had been founded in 1931 as the first professional club in town, while FK Girona, the club of the local ANG workers, had remained staunchly amateur.

After the establishment of FJ Girona, however, FK Girona quickly began to lose its following in the town, and with fewer people coming through the gates, the club went broke and folded in 1938. Many of the biggest supporters of the club found it impossible to support FJ Girona, who by that time were the number one show in town. They wanted to provide an alternate option, something more down to earth.

And thus, Davvenasti was born in 1940. The name meaning ‘north star’, referring to one of the symbols of the country of Sankt Konrad and the Albmoti people in particular, they initially played their matches in a park just beside the ocean. That gave them popularity with the local dockworkers, and they began to carve out a following in the town.

Success on the pitch, however, eluded Davvenasti for many years. The 1940s were, naturally, difficult, as they struggled to get established in the Silbadassi - particularly after every other club had a multi-year advantage on them. They were promoted for the first time in 1951, but were sent right back down, a pattern that would follow for many years. While they had remained firmly semi-pro, somewhat in line with the values of the original FK Girona, fans began to want more. And so, in 1961, the club’s board voted to officially professionalize and move from the seaside park to a ground-sharing arrangement with FJ Girona.

The move was unpopular with some segments of the fanbase - who tried to re-found the original FK Girona, were denied a permit by the SKFA, and then quietly returned to the terraces at the Girona-Siliju. Overall, however, the change was welcome, and it enabled the club to become more than just a bouncer between divisions. The club reached its highest-ever finish of 3rd in 1971, and for the entire 70s began to develop a new identity - a free-flowing, attacking side who could punish any team that took them lightly. That was combined with a new generation of players coming through the youth academy who became popular nation-wide for their style - long, blond hair, and a bit of a rebellious look that endeared them to youth but made them hated by traditionalists.

All of that would come to a head in the 1980 season. Kolonial’s run of 9 straight league titles had ended the year before, and both of the New Guard were in minor rebuilds. That left things open, and Davvenasti took full advantage of it, winning their first-ever league title, and capping things off with a Cup win. The band would be broken up, however, with some of the key players from the double later being a key part of Kolonial’s run of 5 titles in a row later in the decade. Davvenasti slumped for the latter half of the decade, and throughout the 90s.

A new philosophy made way in the early 2000s, however, as a team that could become feared in the SKFA Cup. And with another generation of young players who bought into the challenge, the Stars would triumph in the Cup in 2005 and 2008, before winning one last SKFA Cup with that team in 2015. Mediocre results followed in the league, however, and the club were relegated in 2019. They’re back now, and Davvenasti will be looking for another long stay in the Raidodassi.

Club Overview: Davvenasti struggled for the longest time to build an identity other than the second team in Girona, however, their teams of the 70s and 80s would do that for them, creating the idea of a club that went against the grain in many ways, and could beat anyone on their day - as they did in winning the league title. That rebellious, underdog mentality, helped in many ways due to their base of support being the lower-class of Girona, the dockworkers, created the base identity of the club.

Known as the Stars due to the display of polaris on their kits as a club logo, there is some dispute over where the deepest-blue colour of their kits was taken from. Some say it was meant to represent the night sky, while others say it represented the deep colour of the sea, beside which the club was born. There isn’t really any consensus, and you’ll hear both stories from Davvenasti supporters.

The club’s biggest rival are FJ Girona, with whom they contest the Girona derby. The only city other than Wilhelmstadt with multiple clubs, the rivalry reached its peak when both were competitive in the 70s and 80s, but hasn’t been as prominent in recent years. Davvenasti defeated Girona in the Cup semifinal in 2008 en route to their 3rd SKFA Cup title, but perhaps the club being back in the top tier will now help reignite the rivalry. Naturally, they also hate Kolonial and Nomadik. Kolonial might get the most hate from Stars supporters, especially as the Pioneers are seen as having ‘stolen’ their team from them in the mid 80s. In reality, of the core 5 of the Davvenasti team, 3 went to Kolonial and 2 to Nomadik - Kolonial were, however, far more successful at the time. In recent years, however, there’s been more hatred for Nomadik.

Fans: Davvenasti are the second-biggest club in their city, and don’t really tend to draw much outside support. They are viewed favourably across the country, as their 1980 team were some of the first true ‘celebrity athletes’ in the country, and have earned some good-will over the years.

Within Girona itself, support is mostly divided by family - if you’re born into a Davvenasti family, you tend to pass it along. Historically, the club’s support came from the dockworkers, the lower-class, and the north end residents. While these are still the strongest bases of support for the club, they’ve also gained prominence in the rural areas surrounding Girona. They draw most of their support from the Albmoti community in the city, which is split between FJ Girona, Nomadik and Davvenasti. The Teus community, meanwhile, is mostly split between Kolonial and FJ Girona - with only a few, mainly those who were dockworkers, supporting Davvenasti.

Similar to their neighbours, Davvenasti aren’t a political club the way Kolonial and Nomadik tend to be. It’s all about the club and community spirit on matchday, and Davvenasti fans are notably more passionate and louder than FJ Girona’s. The club’s anthem is ‘Look to the North Star,’ written specially for the club by one of Sankt Konrad’s most famous singers of the 1980s, who was a fan. Other songs sing praise for the 1980 team, poke fun at FJ Girona, or attack Kolonial and Nomadik. Some songs too are taken from classic folk songs, a result of the influence the dockworkers had on the club.

This year, the Silbadassi projects to be more interesting than ever thanks to its make-up - no professional club as the expected favourites. Here are the 8 clubs ranked in order of expected finish, with a small blurb about each.

1. FC Sankt Anna: Just missing out on promotion last year, Sankt Anna proved to be competitive against Davvenasti, and with the best attacking record in the division last year, expect all guns to be firing again.

2. FJ Varis Skaidi: Relegated from the Raidodassi, Skaidi have real problems in several areas of the pitch, and while they’ll be competing again for promotion, they might be glad to miss out and get a chance to retool.

3. FJ Jokkohakko: Jokkohakko were a surprise package last season, finishing 3rd in the division, and despite being from the smallest village in the league system, have every chance of going on a fairytale run this year.

4. Varis Deatnu: It was a disappointing year for the other Varis club last season in the Silbadassi, and without big changes to their squad, we can’t really see them challenging for promotion.

5. Guovdageidnu: Nightmare season last year saw them finish below even the amateur clubs in 8th. With several young players coming into the first team this year, expect them to take a step forward - how much forward, however, is hard to say.

6. FK Wilhelmstadt: Usually the best of the amateur clubs, expect Wilhelmstadt to be far more invested in the league this season, after embarrassingly finishing behind both Poliisa and Hafenarbeiter last season.

7. Poliisa: Darlings of the division last year with a 4th place finish, it’s hard to expect something similar for the club of the Sankt Konrad Police Service this year, and they should return to normalcy at the bottom of the division this year. Given their penchant for surprise, however, maybe a Cup run will be in store?

8. Hafenarbeiter: Traditionally the worst of the amateur teams, the club of Wilhelmstadt’s dockworkers, Hafenarbeiter, did much better than expected last season with a 5th placed season. Similar to Poliisa, however, you shouldn’t expect lightning to strike twice.

We’ll be back soon as the Raidodassi season gets underway!

[Sankt Konrad]

104th Raidodassi Season - Season Part I

We’re off! Matchday 1 kicks off another Raidodassi season. Due to the fact that the league is played during the summer, the IFCF preliminary rounds will occur during the season. Should a Raidodassi club advance past the preliminary rounds, the group stages would occur after the season.

Matchday 1

Kolonial 2–1 GS Deatnu
FC Sankt Leopold 3–4 Nomadik
FJ Gaivuotna 1–0 FJ Girona
Davvenasti 0–3 Divtasvuodno

The defending champions celebrated title #47 with a pre-match ceremony honouring their win, and kicked off the chase for #48 with a 2-1 win over GS Deatnu - who were the opponents on the final day last season. Bannos looked like he might spoil the party with an early goal, but Timo Hackl and Lavo each found the net for Kolonial in a 2-1 win. Nomadik went 3-1 down against FC Sankt Leopold in the first half, but found their way back under the leadership of Aksel, who scored twice in the game. Siigur had the winner for Gaivuotna in a cagey affair with FJ Girona, while Davvenasti’s welcome back to the Raidodassi didn’t go so well, Divtasvuodno putting three past them on opening day.

Matchday 2

GS Deatnu 1–4 Divtasvuodno
FJ Girona 1–1 Davvenasti
Nomadik 4–1 FJ Gaivuotna
Kolonial 5–1 FC Sankt Leopold

Divtasvuodno built off of their excellent opening day win with a 4-1 victory away to Deatnu, Niba scoring twice in the win. The first Girona derby of the season took place this week as well, with Girona and Davvenasti playing out a 1-1 draw. Simit opened the scoring for Girona, and for a while it looked as if they were in total control of the game, Sappa dominating the midfield battle. A counter-attack late sprung Aron, however, and he gave the fans something to cheer with the equalizer. Nomadik crushed Gaivuotna, 4-1 the final there and the visitors never really seemed to have a chance, the Nomads up 3-0 at the break. Finally, Kolonial also crushed Sankt Leopold, Lavo scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 win.

SKFA Cup First Round - First Leg

Nomadik 1–0 Hafenarbeiter
GS Deatnu 1–0 FK Wilhelmstadt
Varis Deatnu 2–3 FC Sankt Leopold
FJ Gaivuotna 0–3 FJ Girona
Divtasvuodno 2–1 FJ Varis Skaidi
Poliisa 1–1 Davvenasti
Guovdageidnu 1–2 Kolonial
FJ Jokkohakko 3–3 FC Sankt Anna

No big surprises in the first round of the Cup. Hafenarbeiter held Nomadik much closer than expected, and perhaps have a small chance of a miracle upset back at home. GS Deatnu might face a challenge going to FK Wilhelmstadt, only beating the amateur club 1-0 in their home leg. FC Sankt Leopold turned a 2-1 deficit in the early stages of the second half to a 3-2 win that puts them in great position, while Girona have basically won their tie, 3-0 up on Gaivuotna. Divtasvuodno scored twice in the second half to beat Varis Skaidi, while Poliisa made full use of their home field advantage to secure a 1-1 draw with Davvenasti. Kolonial beat Guovdageidnu 2-1 on the road, while FJ Jokkohakko blew a 2-0 lead in what finishes as a 3-3 draw with FC Sankt Anna.

Matchday 3

FC Sankt Leopold 0–1 GS Deatnu
FJ Gaivuotna 1–7 Kolonial
Davvenasti 1–7 Nomadik
Divtasvuodno 2–2 FJ Girona

We started with an East Coast derby this week, Sankt Leopold hosting Deatnu. The match wasn’t really befitting of the title, however, and was quite dull most of the way - but Bannos’ late goal gave it much-needed drama, and in the end Deatnu get their first win of the season. Kolonial’s away fans taunted the Gaivuotna support all the way during a 7-1 victory over the Seals, particularly after Gaivuotna player Mellet Millot was sent off early in the second half after a frustrated challenge on Lars Harrer. It was another ‘welcome back’ moment for Davvenasti, meanwhile, as Nomadik also put seven past them - Aksel with the hat-trick, and Elias Nilse scoring the best goal of the day. Finally, Divtasvuodno met FJ Girona, and in a tricky match for both sides in cold weather, the Bears’ Nihkul Jorge scored a late equalizer.

SKFA Cup First Round Second Leg

Hafenarbeiter 0–1 Nomadik (Nomadik win 2-0 on agg.)
FK Wilhelmstadt 0–1 GS Deatnu (GS Deatnu win 2-0 on agg.)
FC Sankt Leopold 1–0 Varis Deatnu (FC Sankt Leopold win 4-2 on agg.)
FJ Girona 1–1 FJ Gaivuotna (FJ Girona win 4-1 on agg.)
FJ Varis Skaidi 0–1 Divtasvuodno (Divtasvuodno win 3-1 on agg.)
Davvenasti 1–0 Poliisa (Davvenasti win 2-1 on agg.)
Kolonial 2–1 Guovdageidnu (Kolonial win 4-2 on agg.)
FC Sankt Anna 3–1 FJ Jokkohakko (FC Sankt Anna win 6-4 on agg.)

And once again, no real big surprises. Aksel scored early for Nomadik, who cruised to an aggregate win over Poliisa, while GS Deatnu got a similar victory over FK Wilhelmstadt. Sankt Leopold’s Per Scholl headed in a late corner that gave Sankt Leopold some extra insurance, while a low-key affair between Girona and Gaivuotna ended in a 1-1 draw. Divtasvuodno snuck in a late goal against Varis Skaidi as they advance, while Davvenasti struggled to break down Poliisa through much of the game before Ruigi put away the winner. Kolonial were a bit shocked as the visiting Guovdageidnu went 1-0 up, but goals from Timo Hackl ended any question. Finally, FC Sankt Anna, who’ve been off to a strong start in the Silbadassi, win 3-1 at home to advance.

The second round draw will see Kolonial take on Davvenasti, FC Sankt Anna taking on FJ Girona, FJ Gaivuotna taking on FC Sankt Leopold, and a rematch of last season’s semi-final as Nomadik take on Divtasvuodno. You’d have to figure that one is the big tie of the round, given the fireworks between the teams last year, and it’s hard to say who the favourites will be. The first leg will be played after matchday 10.

Matchday 4

GS Deatnu 0–2 FJ Girona
Nomadik 0–1 Divtasvuodno
Kolonial 4–3 Davvenasti
FC Sankt Leopold 2–1 FJ Gaivuotna

Girona managed to find their first win of the season, as they struck down Deatnu with 2 first half goals. Meanwhile, there was controversy at the Albmotsstadion as Divtasvuodno beat Nomadik 1-0. Divtas, set up to absorb pressure and counter, earned a penalty early into the second half which Niba knocked in. When Joha committed a similar foul on Nomadik’s Aksel later in the game and nothing was called, however, Nomadik were furious and crowded the referee to complain about the double standard. Either way, Divtasvuodno come away with the points, making their fans very happy. It’s tough luck for Davvenasti, who led Kolonial 2-0 and 3-1 at points in the match, but the Pioneers showed why they’re the defending champions with a resounding second half fight back. A late goal from Lagon, meanwhile, saw Sankt Leopold defeat FJ Gaivuotna, 2-1 the final.

Matchday 5

FJ Gaivuotna 1–1 GS Deatnu
Davvenasti 0–3 FC Sankt Leopold
Divtasvuodno 1–8 Kolonial
FJ Girona 0–2 Nomadik

Gaivuotna recovered from a few weeks’ worth of bad results with a late goal to secure a point against Deatnu; their fans, however, will be needing that goal to inspire new life in the side who sit 7th in the league with 4 points. Bottom are Davvenasti, who were resoundingly defeated by FC Sankt Leopold, 3-0 the final in that one as the Eagles soar to 4th in the table. No one was resoundingly defeated like Divtasvuodno were this week, however - 8 (eight) goals from Kolonial in a star-studded win. It was too easy for the visitors, who went up 4-1 in the first half. An early red card from Emel gave Kolonial a further advantage, which they took to make the result a bit ridiculous. Kolonial have now scored 26 goals in the first 5 games of the season, 9 better than the next closest team. That would be Nomadik, who moved up to second in the league with a 2-0 win over Girona on the road.

Matchday 6

GS Deatnu 1–4 Nomadik
Kolonial 2–0 FJ Girona
FC Sankt Leopold 4–7 Divtasvuodno
FJ Gaivuotna 1–0 Davvenasti

Nomadik’s solid run continues, 5 wins from 6 to kick off the league campaign as they defeat Deatnu 4-1, goals coming from Aksel, Elias Nilse, Morten and Vuoitu. Kolonial, meanwhile, recorded their 6th straight win from 6 with a 2-0 win over FJ Girona, the goals from Lavo and Timo Hackl. Next week, the sides will meet at the Albmotsstadion for the first New Guard clash of the year. Divtasvuodno were fired up after their embarrassing loss to Kolonial last week, and put 7 of their own past Sankt Leopold - truly seeing them as Kolonial B, we take it. The home side would put up more of a fight, and scored four of their own - but it was futile against a driven Divtas side. Finally, Gaivuotna put it all together across 90 minutes and delivered the win against Davvenasti, who have taken just 1 point from the opening matches.

IFCF First Preliminary Rounds - First Leg

Kolonial 4-0 Colanso City (JEC)
FJ Girona 0-3 Mashu Hellowenia (HIN)
Divtasvuodno 1-0 Vidial Alchemists (MRN)
Nomadik 3-1 Di Maozoxe (FFD)

Midweek saw the Raidodassi clubs participate in the IFCF competitions for the first time. All of them were at home, surprisingly - and for three out of four, they kicked off the tournament in the best way possible. In the Champions’ League, Kolonial eased to a 4-0 win over Colanso City, Lavo getting a brace. In the Challengers’ Cup, FJ Girona were overpowered by Mashu Hellowenia, 3-0 the final there, while Divtasvuodno managed the best of the Vidial Alchemists with a 1-0 hard-fought win, the Bears’s classic pragmatism shining through. Nomadik earned perhaps the result of the round, however - a shocking 3-1 win over Farf club Di Maozoxe. That’s a huge upset, especially when you consider that 2 of the Farf side that won World Cup 84 ply their trade at the club, including star goalkeeper Iue Tgo. If Nomadik can avoid a collapse in the second leg, it could be an all-time result for the club.

Matchday 7

Davvenasti 1–0 GS Deatnu
Divtasvuodno 3–1 FJ Gaivuotna
FJ Girona 1–0 FC Sankt Leopold
Nomadik 2–2 Kolonial

And Davvenasti finally get their first win of the season! 1-0 over GS Deatnu, it was Aron who scored the winner that their fans will be hoping invigorates them for the remaining three-fourths of the season. Divtasvuodno had little trouble with Gaivuotna, 3-1 the final there, while FJ Girona kept a clean sheet in the win over FC Sankt Leopold, 1-0 the result.

The New Guard returned for the first time this year, meeting for the first time since Kolonial took the league title on the last day of last season. Asked if that loss still stung, particularly after the 6-3 loss to Kolonial on matchday 25 last season that saw the Nomads slip behind their rivals, Nomadik captain Lejo replied that “Naturally, but not because of Kolonial - they did what they had to do, we didn’t. There’s not going to be any talk of revenge from us, it’s more about bettering ourselves.” Kolonial manager Horst Prantl was, as always, fanning the flames: “I think their heads might be a bit big after that result midweek - of course, it was a big one for them - but we’ll set them straight.”

The match itself, however, didn’t really live up to the drama or billing. Mostly even in the first half, it was broken open off a corner when Elias Nilse’s ball met the head of Lenne and flew past Adrian Ganser to make it 1-0 for the home side. Before the end of the half, however, Kolonial would be level through an Iskko free kick. Nomadik came out in the second half setup to take the game to the Pioneers, but it didn’t really work, and Kolonial exploited Nomadik’s free-flowing play to make it 2-1 through a great goal from Lavo. As time ticked on, Nomadik grew more desperate, and they’d end up finding an equalizer through Morten just before the end of normal time.

“Not our best performance, but we’re past it and looking ahead to next week,” said Horst Prantl afterwards, avoiding any talk about how his team had let a lead slip late. “We’re glad to get that goal, but it’s far less than we wanted from this match,” said his counterpart, Nomadik manager Volbmar Albe. After 7 matches, Kolonial sit 1st with 19 points, while Nomadik are second on 16.

IFCF First Preliminary Round Second Leg

Colanso City (JEC) 1-3 Kolonial
Mashu Hellowenia (HIN) 0-0 FJ Girona
Vidial Alchemists (MRN) 0-0 Divtasvuodno
Di Maozoxe (FFD) 1-0 Nomadik

The IFCF competitions carried on midweek, and several Raidodassi clubs are advancing. In the Champions’ League, Kolonial picked up where they left off against Jeckland’s Colanso City with a 3-1, moving on to the second round and a tie with Leighton Albion. In the Challengers’ Cup, FJ Girona are out, however they can take pride in their performance against Mashu. Divtasvuodno, meanwhile, parked the bus hard against the Alchemists, making use as always of the tactical foul, and they advance to the second round of the competition to take on Pasarga’s Tanrisal. The big news of the round, however, is that Di Maozoxe could only knock one past Nomadik at home - and one of the biggest results in the history of Nomadik is secured, they knock out Di Maozoxe 3-2 on aggregate. In the next round, Nomadik will take on Admiral Novorossiysk of Pridnestrovia.

Matchday 8

GS Deatnu 3–6 Kolonial
Nomadik 5–3 FC Sankt Leopold
FJ Girona 1–4 FJ Gaivuotna
Divtasvuodno 3–3 Davvenasti

Fresh off the midweek win, Kolonial picked back up with a 6-3 win over GS Deatnu, Timo Hackl getting a hat-trick in a match that Iskko seemed to control from start to finish from the midfield. Nomadik nearly matched their enemies’ tally, defeating Sankt Leopold by ‘only’ 5-3 to remain second place in the league. FJ Gaivuotna, meanwhile, seem to be gathering some momentum - they crush Girona 4-1, using their midfield to completely bully Girona off the pitch. Add clinical finishing from Indu Herko to the mix, and it’s a big win for the Seals. Davvenasti held Divtasvuodno, meanwhile, to a 3-3 draw, the visitors moving off the bottom and now sitting 7th in the league.

Matchday 9

Divtasvuodno 1–0 GS Deatnu
Davvenasti 0–4 FJ Girona
FJ Gaivuotna 1–4 Nomadik
FC Sankt Leopold 0–6 Kolonial

It’s GS Deatnu who are the trouble team now, sitting bottom of the division, and though they held out admirably for 87 minutes against Divtasvuodno - a football match is 90 minutes, and Joel Simit’s late winner brings 3 points to the Bears. The Girona derby wasn’t close, with FJ Girona crushing neighbours Davvenasti 4-0 in a match that never really found a true derby atmosphere - which tends to happen when one side is 2-0 up within 10 minutes. FJ Gaivuotna actually scored first on Nomadik, and seemed to be on the way to a surprise win - but it all collapsed in the second half, and the visitors come away with a 4-1 win. And at some point, you have to wonder just how much Sankt Leopold are trying when they face Kolonial - a 5-1 loss on matchday two, and a 6-0 loss here thanks to goals from Hentto, Iskko (x2), Timo Hackl (x2) and Lavo. Maybe the Eagles are just that bad - that makes it 7 losses in 9 games so far, and giving up a league-high 30 goals.

Matchday 10

GS Deatnu 1–1 FC Sankt Leopold
Kolonial 0–0 FJ Gaivuotna
Nomadik 1–1 Davvenasti
FJ Girona 2–4 Divtasvuodno

The second East Coast derby of the season, and it’s GS Deatnu that gets a much-needed point thanks to a late equalizer from Bannos. Bannos has continued to be the Hammers’ best player this season despite their struggles, responsible for 6 of their 9 goals for so far. Elsewhere, Kolonial were held to 0 goals for the first time all season, and only their second draw of the season, as Gaivutona shut up shop well at Der Hafen. Nomadik, however, couldn’t take advantage, as they also slipped up to draw 1-1 at the Albmotsstadion with Davvenasti. Divtasvuodno took the chance to regain some ground in the title race, beating Girona 4-2, courtesy of a hat-trick by Niba.

SKFA Cup Second Round First Leg

Kolonial 1–1 Davvenasti
FC Sankt Anna 1–1 FJ Girona
FJ Gaivuotna 1–1 FC Sankt Leopold
Nomadik 2–3 Divtasvuodno

A very interesting start to the second round of the SKFA Cup. Davvenasti managed to surprise Kolonial with a great counter-attacking strategy, using Birki and Aron almost as wing-backs to aid in the transition, and they nabbed a late goal from Ruigi to head back home for the second leg very much in this tie. FC Sankt Anna missed a late penalty that would’ve given them a lead against FJ Girona, they’ll now need a big result on the road, while Gaivuotna and Sankt Leopold played out quite a boring 1-1 draw. The big game, of course, was Nomadik and Divtasvuodno. While Nomadik started well, scoring within the first 10 minutes, it was clear that Divtasvuodno’s style of play was frustrating the Nomads. Marten equalized for the visitors, and from that point on Nomadik fell apart, and Divtasvuodno took full advantage to go 3-1 up. A late goal from Aksel recovered hope for Nomadik in the second leg, and they’ll have it all to do as they travel to face Divtas. The clubs also play in the league next week, making it 3 matches in 8 days between the sides.

Matchday 11

FJ Girona 0–1 GS Deatnu
Divtasvuodno 0–3 Nomadik
Davvenasti 0–5 Kolonial
FJ Gaivuotna 4–0 FC Sankt Leopold

GS Deantu’s second win of the season, and their first since matchday 3, is a bit of a surprise given it comes over FJ Girona, but it pulls the Hammers up to 6th place. They are still without a win at home, however, nearly halfway through the season, and that will need to change quick. Nomadik got some revenge for the midweek Cup loss to Divtasvuodno with a decisive 3-0 win, while Kolonial did the same against Davvenasti, 5-0 the final as Kolonial remain on top of the league. It was Cup rematches abound as Gaivuotna also took on Sankt Leopold, the home side easing to a 4-0 victory that pulls them up to 4th.

SKFA Cup Second Round Leg Two

Davvenasti 3–1 Kolonial (Davvenasti win 4-2 on agg.)
FJ Girona 1–0 FC Sankt Anna (FJ Girona win 2-1 on agg.)
FC Sankt Leopold 0–1 FJ Gaivuotna (FJ Gaivuotna win 2-1 on agg.)
Divtasvuodno 1–2 Nomadik (Divtasvuodno win 4-4 on away goals)

Big news here! Davvenasti pulled off the upset against Kolonial at home, going 2-0 up in the first half. That made Kolonial a bit desperate, subbing on some of their first-choice team, but they couldn’t get the job done, Davvenasti winning 3-1 to advance to the semifinal and knock out the defending winners. FJ Girona would finish the job against Sankt Anna, getting a 2-1 aggregate win, while there were similar scenes in Sankt Leopold, where Gaivuotna’s early goal was enough for the win. Nomadik would actually defeat Divtasvuodno away, but a goal from Joel Simit early into the second half would level the tie on aggregate and send Divtasvuodno through to the semifinals on away goals.

With both New Guard clubs out of the competition, this means it will be the 30th time in the competition’s 104-year history it is not one by one of the clubs. And if you take away the 9 Cups contested pre-professionalization, it’s clearly a very rare occurrence, last seen in 2017 when GS Deatnu took the Cup. It’s wide open now for somebody to make some history. The semifinal draw sees a Girona derby on one end, Davvenasti taking on FJ Girona, while Divtasvuodno will take on FJ Gaivuotna. You’d have to make Divtasvuodno favourites, logically, but as we’ve seen so clearly in this round, anybody can beat anybody.

Matchday 12

GS Deatnu 1–3 FJ Gaivuotna
FC Sankt Leopold 2–1 Davvenasti
Kolonial 0–1 Divtasvuodno
Nomadik 1–0 FJ Girona

FJ Gaivuotna are putting a bit of a gap between them in 4th and their chasers, with a 3-1 win over a GS Deatnu side who continue to sputter at home. Davvenasti couldn’t carry on from that glorious midweek upset in the Cup, and drop their match with Sankt Leopold 2-1 on the road, the Eagles finally looking a complete team over 90 minutes in that one. Meanwhile, Kolonial have to be wondering what went wrong against Divtasvuodno - they were utterly dominant in terms of possession, shots, any statistic you’d like - except for one, as Divtas picked up a late goal to claim all 3 points. The Kolonial fans were furious, already upset after the elimination from the Cup, throwing debris on the pitch at full-time, while the Divtas fans were laughing all the way home. Could this be the beginning of a slip-up for the Pioneers? Nomadik moved level with them on points with a 1-0 win over FJ Girona, taking care of business through an Elias Nilse goal.

IFCF Second Preliminary Round Leg One

Kolonial 2-1 Leighton Albion (ULG)
Nomadik 3-0 Admiral Novorossiysk (PRD)
Divtasvuodno 0-1 Tanrisal (PAS)

Another strong showing for Sankt Konrad clubs in the second preliminary round. In the Champions’ League, Kolonial fought hard against Leighton Albion, wanting to set things straight in front of the home crowd, and Lavo’s late goal gives them a lead in the tie and new motivation for the weekend. In the Challengers’ Cup, Nomadik eased past the visiting Admiral Novorossiysk, Elias Nilse and Aksel dominating the game on the wings, while Divtasvuodno welcomed Tanrisal to the island with a rough game, eventually falling 1-0, but staying theoretically in contention for the second leg. It’ll surely be a big road trip for Divtas, visiting Tani at Kilmonarch - a stadium (72,000) that could fit the entire population of Sankt Konrad (61,600) and still have room left over.

Matchday 13

Nomadik 2–0 GS Deatnu
FJ Girona 0–2 Kolonial
Divtasvuodno 0–1 FC Sankt Leopold
Davvenasti 1–3 FJ Gaivuotna

GS Deatnu’s struggles continued with a 2-0 loss against Nomadik, who kept pace with rivals Kolonial. Der Rot und Geld secured a 2-0 win over FJ Girona on the road to maintain their place at the top of the league. With both sides level in points, next week’s New Guard fixture at Der Hafen will be of utmost importance to both sides. Divtasvuodno fall a bit behind the Big 2 with a disappointing 1-0 loss against Sankt Leopold, Rudolf Klempner getting the winner for the Eagles, who have looked much better in recent weeks and are up to 5th place in the league. Davvenasti stay bottom, with only 6 points all season, as FJ Gaivuotna’s run continues with a 3-1 win.

IFCF Second Preliminary Round Leg Two

Leighton Albion (ULG) 0-3 Kolonial
Admiral Novorossiysk (PRD) 1-3 Nomadik
Tanrisal (PAS) 1-1 (a.e.t) Divtasvuodno

And for 2 Sankt Konrad clubs, the IFCF journey continues. In the Champions’ League, Kolonial finished up well against Leighton Albion with a big 3-0 win on the road - but some questioned the need to use the first-team squad so far from home just days before the big New Guard fixture. Next up for Kolonial is AS Virtus 04 of Lisander. In the Challengers’ Cup, Nomadik sent a mixed squad to Pridnestrovia and came away with a 3-1 win over Admiral Novorossiysk, sending them forwards to a tie with AFC Corvistone of Nephara. Divtasvuodno fought valiantly in Pasarga - actually winners after 90 minutes thanks to a Joel Simit goal - and only lost after extra time, going out of the competition with dignity.

Matchday 14

GS Deatnu 1–2 Davvenasti
FJ Gaivuotna 1–1 Divtasvuodno
FC Sankt Leopold 0–2 FJ Girona
Kolonial 1–5 Nomadik

It was a huge match at the bottom of the table to kick off the weekend with GS Deatnu hosting Davvenasti - and halfway through the season, Deatnu still haven’t managed a home win. Davvenasti come away with the three points here, good enough to push them to 7th. Divtasvuodno couldn’t take advantage of one of the Big 2 dropping points, and laboured to a 1-1 draw with Gaivuotna, while FJ Girona gained some ground on 4th place with a 2-0 win over FC Sankt Leopold.

All eyes were focused firmly on the New Guard clash this week, with the winner taking first place in the league at the halfway point. Kolonial manager Horst Prantl hit back at media suggestions that his side might be a bit tired out after the midweek travel and match, saying that “Our boys are always ready to play whenever, wherever, and if you’re suggesting they won’t be up for a New Guard clash, I suggest you rethink that theory.” On the other side of things, Volbmar Alpe also spoke about the effects the IFCF competition could have: “Well, I think there’s certainly some of our players that will be a bit better rested than theirs, but usually in a game like this the big questions are more about desire than anything else.”

And on the day, it seemed Nomadik were the side that very clearly wanted it more. The key in the match came down to the wings - and Aksel and Elias Nilse had both played limited minutes midweek, while Kolonial fullbacks Rasmos and Simon Husch had each played the full 90. The opening 25 minutes were about even, but as time wore on, Nomadik became clearly the better side. Aksel was a terror down the left wing, beating Rasmos time and time again, and by halftime it was 2-0 for the visitors. While Kolonial tried to adjust by assigning Hentto and Lars Herrer far more responsibilities in defence, it was no match for a fiery Nomadik team. In midfield, too, Gappe put in one of his best performances ever in the blue hoops, and with goals from Morten, Elias Nilse and Iisku it soon became 5-0 for the boys in blue. Timo Hackl would make it 5-1, but the match was long over by that point. There was a bit of crowd trouble near the end of the match - Nomadik fans celebrating their win taunted the Kolonial support with chants of ‘Teusland is that way, why don’t you go home?,’ to which Kolonial's supporters replied with rocks and bottles thrown into the away end. Tensions threatened to boil over, but the stewards stepped in and prevented extra trouble. Both clubs were fined by the SKFA over the incident, as part of efforts to stamp out sectarianism and fan violence in the derby.

After the match, however, it was all celebration in the blue half of the city. “Brilliant, just brilliant. That’s how we strive to play every week, and the fact they had no real answer tells you something about the quality we’ve got. Aksel and Elias were exceptional today,” said Nomadik manager Volbmar Albe in the post-match presser. Horst Prantl, meanwhile, was in a foul mood when he said “Let them celebrate like they’ve won the league, we’ll get back to work and keep our heads up and come back stronger.” Bladdi’s cover said it all, however: “A Midsummer Nightmare! People 5-1 Fishermen, We Are Top of the League!”

Halfway through the season, let’s take a look at the league table.

# Raidodassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
1 Nomadik                14   11   2   1    44   15  +29    35
2 Kolonial               14   10   2   2    50   18  +32    32
3 Divtasvuodno           14    8   3   3    31   26   +5    27
4 FJ Gaivuotna           14    6   3   5    23   25   −2    21
5 FJ Girona              14    4   2   8    15   20   −5    14
6 FC Sankt Leopold       14    4   1   9    20   38  −18    13
7 Davvenasti             14    2   3   9    14   38  −24     9
8 GS Deatnu              14    2   2  10    12   29  −17     8

Nomadik go top of the league thanks to that big win over Kolonial on matchday 14, but it’s overall a testament to their great record throughout the season. They’ve only lost once, that being on matchday 4, and have given up a league-best 15 goals so far this season. Aksel and Elias Nilse have kept improving, and they might just be the most dangerous wingers in the league right now. For Kolonial, it’s disappointment to have fallen out of top spot in that way - but a knowledge that they have every chance to come back, with a great offensive record this season - Timo Hackl’s goal in the 5-1 loss was the 50th of the season for the club, and they’ve been quite good defensively as well if you remove that derby defeat.

Next are Divtasvuodno, who will be disappointed to have missed chances over the last few weeks to keep pace with the Big 2. The real problem, however, has been the inconsistency of their game. While last season, they kept pace with both Kolonial and Nomadik in terms of goals for and against, this year they haven’t done as good a job - giving up 26 goals in the first 14 games, after giving up only 37 all year last year. Now, the record looks a lot better when you remove the 8-1 loss to Kolonial - and really, Divtas have been good this year. Not great, however, and unfortunately for them that’s what it will take to beat the Big 2. Gaivuotna are next in fourth, despite their troubles offensively this year they’ve put quite a gap between themselves and Girona.

Speaking of Girona, you have to wonder if manager Duomis Lejo’s job is on the line - they’ve taken only 14 points from the first half of the season, and are 7 points out of an IFCF place. Raidodassi clubs are quite patient with managers, however, and he’ll likely get at least the rest of the year to turn it around. To do so, he’ll need to fix Girona’s misfiring offence that has scored only 15 goals so far this year. 6th are FC Sankt Leopold. It’s hard to get a read on the Eagles, who sputtered in the first bit of the season - 2-0-7 through their first 9 games, before going 2-1-2 in the 5 before the break, including a win over Divtasvuodno. What’s clear is the defending has not been as good as it was last year - something Per Scholl needs to step up and become a solution for in the second half.

Battling it out for relegation, it seems, will be Davvenasti and GS Deatnu, who have managed 9 and 8 points from the first half of the season respectively. Defending has also been a problem for Davvenasti, who’ve conceded 38 goals, while Deatnu’s record has been a bit better, with 29 goals against. The clear problem for Deatnu is their record at home - 0-1-7, by far the worst in the division. They’ll need to turn the Deatnu-Siliju into as much of a fortress as they can to really get somewhere in this relegation battle.

# Silbadassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
1 FJ Varis Skaidi        14    9   4   1    29   12  +17    31
2 Guovdageidnu           14    7   3   4    15   11   +4    24
3 FC Sankt Anna          14    6   4   4    17   10   +7    22
4 Varis Deatnu           14    6   3   5    14   15   −1    21
5 FK Wilhelmstadt        14    5   3   6    13   14   −1    18
6 Hafenarbeiter          14    5   1   8    10   16   −6    16
7 FJ Jokkohakko          14    4   3   7    13   19   −6    15
8 Poliisa                14    2   3   9     6   20  −14     9

The Good: FJ Varis Skaidi have fixed some of their issues it seems, having lost only 1 game so far in the second tier and leading the way when it comes to the promotion race. Right behind them are Guovdageidnu, who have really recovered from last season’s struggles. They’ll need an improved offensive effort in the second half, however - 7 wins through 15 goals isn’t really sustainable. In addition, FK Wilhelmstadt have been the best of the amateur sides so far, staying competitive in the league and sitting 5th.

The Bad: FC Sankt Anna are the clear underachievers - 8 points back of the promotion spot for the preseason favourites, and while they’ve got the best defence in the division, it’s the offence that’s the problem, only 17 goals so far for Sankt Anna. In addition, FJ Jokkohakko have gotten off to a horrid start after last year gave some hope of a possible promotion this year - they now sit 7th. After being the media darlings last year, Poliisa have gotten off to a bad start and sit bottom of the Silbadassi, far off the pace with only 9 points.

There’s still much to settle in the Raidodassi season, with a title up for grabs, the Cup up for grabs, and Sankt Konrad clubs seeing some good early success in IFCF competitions. We’ll be back soon for the second half of the season!

[Sankt Konrad]

104th Raidodassi Season - Season Part II

Matchday 15

Kolonial 5–2 GS Deatnu
FC Sankt Leopold 3–0 Nomadik
FJ Gaivuotna 0–1 FJ Girona
Davvenasti 1–1 Divtasvuodno

Just one week after seemingly being knocked off their perch by Nomadik, Kolonial are back on top of the league! They recovered from last week’s crushing loss with a big win of their own against GS Deatnu, who were played off the park thanks to the excellent performance of Kolonial’s midfield, led by Iskko and Bastian Kreuzberg. Meanwhile, it was a shocking result on the east coast, where FC Sankt Leopold took advantage of a rainstorm to defeat Nomadik 3-0. That rain was also seen in Gaivuotna, where the home side lost 1-0 to FJ Girona, who are fighting their way back in the race for IFCF positions. Davvenasti’s Ruigi scored a late goal to earn his side a point against Divtasvuodno, who will again be disappointed with missing a chance to gain ground on the Big 2.

Matchday 16

GS Deatnu 1–1 Divtasvuodno
FJ Girona 1–1 Davvenasti
Nomadik 1–0 FJ Gaivuotna
Kolonial 3–1 FC Sankt Leopold

It’s a miracle! Points at home for GS Deatnu, as they hold Divtasvuodno to a draw - the Bears’ form has slipped a bit in the last few weeks, and now 9 points back of the Big 2 it seems any talk of a three-way title race is dying down. In the Girona derby, Davvenasti scored a late equalizer to hold Girona to a draw, while each of the New Guard would grab wins. Nomadik left it late before Elias Nilse banged in the winner against Gaivuotna, while Kolonial would have little trouble breaking down Sankt Leopold’s defence, going 3-0 up in the first half and only giving away a bit of consolation later on.

Matchday 17

FC Sankt Leopold 3–2 GS Deatnu
FJ Gaivuotna 6–6 Kolonial
Davvenasti 3–1 Nomadik
Divtasvuodno 3–2 FJ Girona

Storm season is about to wind down on Sankt Konrad - but it gave one last angry push on the weekend, with non-stop rain and wind. That made for terrible conditions for football, but also gave some of the most interesting results of the season. First up was the East Coast derby, which was a back-and-forth affair the whole way, before Carl Weis scored the winner for the Eagles off a free kick. Weis has been integral in Sankt Leopold’s season so far, and they are only 3 points off of Gaivuotna in 4th. Gaivuotna, meanwhile, would play arguably the match of the year so far with Kolonial, that one full of drama and finishing 6-6. Gaivuotna led 4-1 before Kolonial stormed back to tie it, 4-4. Gaivuotna once again led 6-5 late, but a penalty was given to Kolonial amidst some controversy, which left Gaivuotna’s support furious. In the end, however, it’s a point each. Davvenasti got the surprise of the day, beating Nomadik 3-1 through goals from Ruigi, Aron and Birki. The Stars have now beaten both Kolonial (SKFA Cup) and Nomadik this season, and sit 5 points ahead of Deatnu in 7th. Divtasvuodno made up some ground on Nomadik, taking advantage of the stormy weather to play a rough, narrow game against Girona which the visitors struggled to adapt to.

IFCF Third Preliminary Round First Leg

Kolonial 2-1 AC Virtus 1904 (LIS)
Nomadik 2-2 AFC Corvistone (NPH)

Great results again for Sankt Konrad clubs in the IFCF competition! Kolonial’s great Champions’ League run continued with a 2-1 win over AC Virtus 1904 of Lisander, Lavo scoring the winner - although it’s not a very comfortable lead going into the second leg away from home. In the Challengers’ Cup, Nomadik earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw with AFC Corvistone of Nephara, Elias Nilse and Aksel getting a goal each. It’ll be tough going, however, in the away leg.

Matchday 18

GS Deatnu 3–1 FJ Girona
Nomadik 1–0 Divtasvuodno
Kolonial 3–0 Davvenasti
FC Sankt Leopold 1–5 FJ Gaivuotna

It’s happening - Deatnu get a home win! Finally the fans at the Deatnu-Siliju have something to celebrate, as two goals from Bannos and another from Joel lifted them to a 3-1 victory over FJ Girona. It’s also big for them in the relegation race - now only 2 points back of safety. Nomadik had to fight hard against a Divtasvuodno side that was eager to sit back, defend and foul, but come away with the win thanks to some individual inspiration from Aksel. Kolonial get some revenge for their loss in the SKFA Cup against Davvenasti, making it look easy with a 3-0 win. And Sankt Leopold’s great run comes to an abrupt end here against Gaivuotna, the Seals strolling their way to a 5-1 win through goals from Indu Herko (x2), Siigur and Oavan.

IFCF Third Preliminary Round Second Leg

AS Virtus 1904 (LIS) 1-0 Kolonial
AFC Corvistone (NPH) 1-0 Nomadik

Kolonial’s Champions’ League adventures come to an end, as they fell 1-0 against AS Virtus 1904 in Lisander to go out of the competition on away goals. They aren’t fully out of the IFCF yet, however - they will drop down to the Challengers’ Cup and take on Kitara AA of Banija. Nomadik, however, are fully eliminated from the Challengers’ Cup with that 1-0 loss against AFC Corvistone - the club, however, have done their country proud throughout the tournament, and their win over Di Maozoxe will stand as one of their greatest all-time triumphs.

Matchday 19

FJ Gaivuotna 0–0 GS Deatnu
Davvenasti 0–3 FC Sankt Leopold
Divtasvuodno 3–1 Kolonial
FJ Girona 1–1 Nomadik

A strange weekend in the Raidodassi. FJ Gaivuotna, after a big week last week, struggled to get service up to Indu Herko, and failed to muster up anything against GS Deatnu - the Hammers, however, were even worse, without a shot on target. FC Sankt Leopold recovered from the big loss last week to hand out a 3-0 defeat to Davvenasti, Carl Weis continuing to lead the way for the Eagles as they remain in the running for that 4th place spot. Divtasvuodno managed to frustrate Kolonial, working hard and winning almost every 50/50 ball, and turning that clear desire into a 3-1 win that sees them gain some ground on the Big 2. Nomadik couldn’t take advantage of their rivals’ slip, and with a draw against FJ Girona, the two rivals now have identical records: 13-3-3. Kolonial are top on goal differential, +38 to Nomadik’s +26.

Matchday 20

GS Deatnu 1–4 Nomadik
Kolonial 3–1 FJ Girona
FC Sankt Leopold 1–2 Divtasvuodno
FJ Gaivuotna 0–1 Davvenasti

Back to normal in the Raidodassi, with both of the New Guard getting big wings. For Nomadik, it was a 4-1 win over GS Deatnu that started off as a potential disaster, Deatnu going 1-0 up through Bannos just 33 seconds into the match. Kolonial had to fight a bit harder than normal against FJ Girona, but it’s been a difficult year for the Watchmen and they sit 6th, 7 points out of that fourth place spot after the 3-1 loss. Divtasvuodno are pretty lonely in third - 7 points back of 2nd, 12 points ahead of 4th - and they pulled off a late comeback in their 2-1 win over FC Sankt Leopold. FJ Gaivuotna supporters won’t be happy with their club’s slip-up against Davvenasti, but for the Stars it’s a huge win that moves them 4 points above the drop. Next week will see the third New Guard derby match of the year, as Nomadik host Kolonial.

SKFA Cup Semifinal First Leg

Davvenasti 0–2 FJ Girona
Divtasvuodno 1–2 FJ Gaivuotna

In the Girona derby, FJ Girona were able to take a commanding lead over Davvenasti with a 2-0 win in the first leg, it looks like they’ve booked a ticket to the final with that performance. Divtasvuodno were surprised at home by a great technical performance from FJ Gaivuotna, Bierill running the show for the Seals and Siigur getting the late winner to give them an advantage going back home for the second leg.

Matchday 21

Davvenasti 6–1 GS Deatnu
Divtasvuodno 0–5 FJ Gaivuotna
FJ Girona 1–0 FC Sankt Leopold
Nomadik 4–0 Kolonial

A massive week in the Raidodassi! Davvenasti kicked things off by coming alive as they tore GS Deatnu apart, winning the match 6-1. The star for the Stars was Birki, who managed three assists in the win. FJ Gaivuotna, meanwhile, didn’t let up on Divtasvuodno - the Bears, who so often get the better of other teams mentally, were the ones who looked frustrated today as they end up losing 5-0 after going down to 10 men. FJ Girona’s Simit scored the only goal in his side’s 1-0 win over FC Sankt Leopold, which brings them back up to 5th and in the race for the top 4.

The New Guard match midday Sunday, however, was the big focus of the week. There was a great deal of discussion about how Kolonial needed to make a statement after the 5-1 drubbing last time, and a bit of that seemed to seep into the pre-match preparations: “We’re going to show them it was a fluke. There’s big wins all the time in this rivalry, it tends to be an emotional fixture, and I think we’re confident for this one,” said Kolonial manager Horst Prantl. Nomadik’s Aksel, meanwhile, spoke about the need to treat it as a new game: “We can’t get caught up in the last time we played, we have to focus on the 90 minutes ahead of us here and getting the best possible result.”

For all Prantl’s talk that the 5-1 was a fluke, Nomadik seemed more eager to prove him wrong than his own side to prove him right. And that’s exactly what happened on the pitch as the Nomads cruised to a 4-0 win to go back on top of the league. Once again it was a struggle for Kolonial to contain the wing play of Aksel and Elias Nilse, Elias Nilse in particular having one of the best games of his season so far. Gappe was again brilliant in the midfield as well, going head to head with Iskko throughout the match. Morten and Aksel made it 2-0 in the first half, and two from Elias Nilse gave Nomadik a 4-0 win over their hated rivals. Kolonial’s away supporters jeered their side off the pitch, and there were even reports of a water bottle being thrown at the team from the away end. Nomadik, meanwhile, were in heaven, supporters rushing the pitch at the end of the game to commemorate a second straight huge win over the enemies.

Horst Prantl tried to downplay his comments from before the game, but he was clearly beyond angry: “Again, you see them celebrate like they’ve won the league - there’s one more match between us left this year, though, and I guarantee you we won’t roll over in that one.” Volbmar Albe gave a bit of a response, saying “Horst can say what he wants, doesn’t change the result or that we’re top of the league now. He’s just trying to deflect from the rightful criticism that’s going to come their way after this one.” Criticism this time coming from even Kolonial-friendly areas: the Wilhelmstadt Zeitung’s cover on Monday morning simply read “Disgraceful.”

SKFA Cup Semifinal Second Leg

FJ Girona 1–1 Davvenasti (FJ Girona win 3-1 on agg.)
FJ Gaivuotna 1–3 Divtasvuodno (Divtasvuodno win 4-3 on agg.)

And we’re all set up for a great Cup Final! FJ Girona took an early lead in the second leg and never really looked back, Davvenasti grabbing one late consolation goal but it’s the Watchmen who are heading to the SKFA Cup Final, looking to capture their 4th Cup title and the first for the club since 1983. On the other end, Divtasvuodno flipped the script in their second leg against Gaivuotna, scoring two goals in the second half to get a last-minute 4-3 aggregate win. Divtasvuodno, the 3rd-most successful side in the history of the competition with 5 wins, will be looking for number 6, their last win coming in 1985. So, one of two 30+ year Cup droughts will come to an end this year when these two meet at Der Hafen for the Cup Final.

Matchday 22

GS Deatnu 1–3 Kolonial
Nomadik 0–1 FC Sankt Leopold
FJ Girona 2–1 FJ Gaivuotna
Divtasvuodno 5–1 Davvenasti

While Nomadik seem to have no problem beating Kolonial, they seem to have real issues with Kolonial B! Kolonial go back on top of the league thanks to their 3-1 win over GS Deatnu, while Rudolf Klempner’s goal at the Albmotsstadion hands Nomadik their 4th loss of the season - two of which have been against the Eagles. The Big 2 still have identical records - 15-3-4, and Kolonial are top on goal difference, although the gap is much closer now - +38 to +32. FJ Girona are now only 4 points back of that 4th place spot as they defeat Gaivuotna 2-1, while Divtasvuodno celebrated their trip to a second straight Cup final with a big 5-1 win over Davvenasti, they remain 7 points back of the top two and their faint title hopes are all but over.

IFCF Playoff Round First Leg

Kolonial 2-1 Kitara AA (BNJ)

A big win for Kolonial here! They may have dropped down to the Challengers’ Cup, but that doesn’t stop their great run of form in international competition. Lavo had both goals in the win - although giving up an away goal to Kitara won’t be welcome. Next week, Kolonial will travel to southwestern Atlantian Oceania to take on Kitara in Banija, with a spot in the next round on the line.

Matchday 23

Divtasvuodno 2–0 GS Deatnu
Davvenasti 2–3 FJ Girona
FJ Gaivuotna 0–3 Nomadik
FC Sankt Leopold 1–4 Kolonial

Divtasvuodno pick up another win, showing once again that they are clearly separate from most of the league - unfortunately, they’re clearly separate from the top 2 as well, 7 points back of Nomadik now. In the Girona derby, Davvenasti will be disappointed as they held a 2-1 lead in the 60th minute and seemed to be outplaying the rivals. However, Girona would turn things around and pull out a 3-2 win. In six competitive matches between the clubs this season, Davvenasti failed to win a single one; assuming they avoid relegation, getting a derby win will surely be top of their list for next year. Nomadik and Kolonial each had three goal wins to keep pace with each other, meanwhile, with Kolonial turning over Sankt Leopold just one week after the Eagles had defeated Nomadik.

IFCF Playoff Round Second Leg

Kitara AA (BNJ) 1-2 Kolonial

What a win! A huge result for Kolonial in the Challengers’ Cup, as they went to Kitara and came away with a 2-1 win, Timo Hackl getting the winning goal as Kolonial are now one round away from a potential trip to the group stages. In their way, however, will be Jungle Strike FC of Vilita, a gargantuan task for the Pioneers.

Matchday 24

GS Deatnu 3–3 FC Sankt Leopold
Kolonial 3–1 FJ Gaivuotna
Nomadik 7–0 Davvenasti
FJ Girona 1–1 Divtasvuodno

The final East Coast derby of the year - and given GS Deatnu’s seemingly impending relegation, it could be the last one for at least another season. Deatnu managed to give the home crowd a bit of enjoyment here, as Bannos scored twice in the second half to pull back a 3-1 deficit and earn a point. They’re now 6 points back of Davvenasti in 7th with 4 matches to go. Kolonial defeated FJ Gaivuotna, Lavo getting the hat-trick, but it was Nomadik who had all the headlines this week - they annihilated Davvenasti, 7-0 the final. You see why Aksel and Elias Nilse are so highly rated in a match like this: 2 goals, 2 assists for Aksel, 1 goal and 3 assists for Elias Nilse. The sides are still level on points, but Nomadik’s huge win does wonders for their goal difference: it’s now +43 for Kolonial, and +42 for Nomadik. FJ Girona’s Juoksa scored a flukey equalizer late against Divtasvuodno to secure a point, that pulls them level on points with FJ Gaivuotna in 4th. The race for the title between Kolonial and Nomadik is tight, and the race for the IFCF places between Gaivuotna, Girona and Sankt Leopold is also coming down to the wire - 4 matches to go!

IFCF Playoff Round First Leg

Kolonial 1-2 Jungle Strike FC (VIL)

It was always going to be tough for Kolonial, going up against Jungle Strike FC, one of the world’s big clubs - and they performed admirably, Lavo actually giving them a lead in the first half before Jungle Strike turned things around. They’re still in this tie, theoretically, but will need a huge performance in the away leg to advance to the group stage.

Matchday 25

FJ Girona 1–0 GS Deatnu
Divtasvuodno 0–1 Nomadik
Davvenasti 1–2 Kolonial
FJ Gaivuotna 1–2 FC Sankt Leopold

FJ Girona have pulled all the way back up to fourth spot in the league now, and they do it in style with a comfortable win over Deatnu. The score doesn’t really reflect the match, as Deatnu keeper Speaidna was exceptional, Girona having nearly all of the chances in the game. Divtasvuodno nearly came away with a point against Nomadik, but it was Morten’s late goal that gave the Nomads continued equality with Kolonial. The Pioneers defeated Davvenasti 2-1, a goal from Lavo standing as the winner, as they continue to hold onto top spot. Lagon’s brace gave Sankt Leopold a win over Gaivuotna, and makes the race for 4th place really interesting: Girona on 32 points, Gaivuotna and Sankt Leopold each on 29.

IFCF Playoff Round Second Leg

Jungle Strike FC (VIL) 1-1 Kolonial

And the book is closed on Sankt Konrad clubs in the IFCF this season. Kolonial put in a brave performance on the road against Jungle Strike, Iskko driving in the lone goal, and in the end did the league proud with a great run on their debut in IFCF competition. Kolonial will be back next year, and while we don’t know if they’ll be in the Champions’ League or the Challengers’ Cup, they’ll surely be a team to watch.

Matchday 26

GS Deatnu 2–0 FJ Gaivuotna
FC Sankt Leopold 0–2 Davvenasti
Kolonial 8–3 Divtasvuodno
Nomadik 0–0 FJ Girona

The second home win of the season for GS Deatnu, but it might be too little too late to save them from relegation. Davvenasti defeated Sankt Leopold, also 2-0, which leaves Deatnu 6 points behind the Stars. It seems to be impossible, but you never know what can happen. Elsewhere, Kolonial put 8 past Divtasvuodno for the second time this season, 8-3 was the final in a disappointing game for the Bears. Lavo had a hat-trick, taking him to 22 goals on the year, and goals also came from Iskko, Hentto, Timo Hackl, Bastian Kreuzberg and Nilpa. Divtasvuodno, however, are quite secure in third place and most of their efforts will now shift to the SKFA Cup Final later this month. Nomadik slipped up at home against FJ Girona, not able to find the back of the net, and the result puts their title credentials in peril going into matchday 26: they’ll need to match Kolonial’s result to give themselves a chance on the final day. If Kolonial defeat FJ Girona, however, and Nomadik fail to win, Kolonial could win the league.

Matchday 27

Nomadik 3–1 GS Deatnu
FJ Girona 2–2 Kolonial
Divtasvuodno 0–2 FC Sankt Leopold
Davvenasti 1–0 FJ Gaivuotna

Nomadik secured a 3-1 win over GS Deatnu to start the weekend off, the result officially confirmed Deatnu’s relegation to the Silbadassi. A sad day for their supporters - and a nervy one coming up for Nomadik, as they will go into the final day level on points with Kolonial. FJ Girona are having quite the impact on this title race, as they get a late goal from Ailun Rede to equalize against Kolonial, and set up the final-day clash. Elsewhere, the race for 4th place heats up as FC Sankt Leopold get a surprise win over Divtasvuodno, giving themselves a chance at IFCF football next season if they can win on the final day. Davvenasti, meanwhile, officially safe from relegation, celebrated with a 1-0 win over FJ Gaivuotna.

Let’s check in again with the league table and preview the fixtures for Super Sunday.

# Raidodassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Kolonial               27   19   4   4    93   44  +49    61
2 Nomadik                27   19   4   4    70   25  +45    61
3 Divtasvuodno           27   13   6   8    52   51   +1    45
4 FJ Girona              27    9   7  11    32   37   −5    34
5 FC Sankt Leopold       27   10   2  15    41   61  −20    32
6 FJ Gaivuotna           27    8   5  14    42   48   −6    29
7 Davvenasti             27    7   5  15    33   65  −32    26
8 GS Deatnu              27    4   5  18    29   61  −32    17     Relegated

Super Sunday (Matchday 28) Fixtures:

GS Deatnu v. Davvenasti
FJ Gaivuotna v. Divtasvuodno
FC Sankt Leopold v. FJ Girona
Kolonial v. Nomadik

We start things off with a mostly-meaningless match between Deatnu and Davvenasti, the 8th and 7th placed sides in the table battling it out - although in theory, Davvenasti can still move up to 6th, requiring a nearly-impossible swing in goal differential. Next up is FJ Gaivuotna against Divtasvuodno, Gaivuotna won’t be in the IFCF places but can end up as high as 5th if they win and Girona defeats Sankt Leopold. That match, at the Klippenrand, will determine Sankt Konrad’s 3rd Challengers’ Cup berth, Girona needing a win or draw while the Eagles have to win to get international football for next season. Plenty of eyes will be on that one, surely.

The biggest match of the day, however, without question is Kolonial and Nomadik. The New Guard derby, the Big 2, going for the title. They’ve not played on the last day since the 2007 season, when the league title was already wrapped up in Nomadik’s favour. The last final-day title decider between the two was Red Sunday in 2001, when Kolonial rallied from a 2-0 deficit at the half to win the match 4-2, ending Nomadik’s run of 6 straight titles. It’s hard to pick a favourite: Kolonial are at home, and have looked strong in recent weeks - but Nomadik have been by far the better side in derby matches this year, including a 5-1 win at Der Hafen earlier in the season.

The only thing clear about this match is what it means to both fanbases. Each seem confident and impatient in the buildup to the match. One Kolonial supporter said that “It’s the losses that make you nervous, for sure, but the way we’ve been playing in the last few weeks, if you told me title comes down to home against them on the final day, I think I’d take it, and I think I’d pick us.” On the other side of Wilhelmstadt, Nomadik’s supporters were confident: “They had a big opportunity there against Girona, and they blew it - I think we’re in their heads a bit. I wouldn’t want to play us if I were them, we’ve hammered them twice this year, we’ll make it three on Sunday and take home the title.”

Radio Sankt Konrad will have total coverage of the final day of the Raidodassi season, as we determine a champion - will it be #48 for Kolonial, or #36 for Nomadik? There’s plenty more on the table, too, with the SKFA Cup Final still to come. We’ll be back soon with the final part of the Raidodassi season.

[Sankt Konrad]

104th Raidodassi Season - Final Day and Review

Radio Sankt Konrad Final Day Liveblog

12:00PM: Welcome back to Radio Sankt Konrad’s Raidodassi final day liveblog. We’ve got a full slate of exciting matches kicking off at 3pm today, and the title as well as the final IFCF place are up for grabs!

12:20PM: We spoke again with Wilhelmstadt’s Chief of Police, Johan Muller, about the plans for the final. “Last year was a bit easier to contain, given both sides were at home - we’ve got a large group prepared to escort the Nomadik fans to and from the stadium, no matter what happens, and then of course teams ready for the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz and National Square, for whichever side gets the win today.”

12:50PM: Horst Prantl has just arrived at Der Hafen, and is speaking to the media outside the ground. “If it comes down to nerves, we can handle it better than anybody, and I think you’ll see our big-game experience shining through today.”

1:04PM: And now Nomadik have arrived at Der Hafen, met by a group of their fans who are waving flags here on this sunny day in Wilhelmstadt. The players stopped for a few pictures, but seemed eager to get on with the day. “We’re here to take care of business,” Aksel told one of our correspondents.

1:15PM: Perhaps the most important arrival of the day - Raidodassi Chairman Friedrich Henschel and the Raidodassi trophy have just arrived at Der Hafen, where they will take in the match at the executive level before presenting the trophy in about 3 hours’ time.

1:20PM: And now Kolonial are here, to the roar of their fans gathered in the square just outside the stadium. No doubt what this means to them, and they mingle a bit with the fans before heading inside to continue their preparations. No comments to the media from the Pioneers.

1:35PM: The second most important match today sees FC Sankt Leopold hosting FJ Girona, and there’s big stakes around this one: the winner will qualify for IFCF football next season. “We’re treating it like the biggest game of our season, and it’s obviously the case,” says Sankt Leopold man Lagon.

1:52PM: Fans in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz are starting to file out of the pubs and towards the stadium, as Nomadik’s fans also arrive at the ground. There’s a long police line separating them, but that doesn’t stop the chanting going back and forth.

1:57PM: Elsewhere, GS Deatnu will be hosting Davvenasti in the final match of their current stay in the Raidodassi, while FJ Gaivuotna are hosting Divtasvuodno. It’s probably fair to say that all eyes are in Wilhelmstadt.

2:00PM: Lineups are out, and it’s no surprise from Kolonial, the usual starting XI for them. Nomadik seem to be going a bit more attacking, however, moving Gappe higher up the pitch into more of a #10 role. Knowing they need a win, clearly Nomadik intend to go for it. Will that be the right choice?

2:17PM: The sides are out for warmups now, and the stadium is rocking for what should be one of the most important matches of this era of the Raidodassi - will Kolonial’s current dynasty continue, or is it the beginning of a new Nomadik reign at the top?

2:30PM: Oaiveministtar (Prime Minister) Erke Lara has just posted a picture of himself in the Nomadik away end here. The lifelong Nomadik fan is attending the match with his father, and while it’ll be a great day if they win - he’s certainly not winning the Teus vote with that public display of support!

2:45PM: Not a soul is on the streets of Wilhelmstadt, not a car on the road. Everyone’s packed into homes and pubs for this one. One shop in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz has a sign out front saying “Closed for the match - Beat Nomadik!” On the Albmotsstrasse, the hub of Albmoti culture in the city, a sign on a closed window says “Away for the Big Game - Just Beat Them, Please”

2:55PM: Only the most qualified referees get to ref a match of this size - the New Guard going for the title. Today, it’s Raidu in charge, he was also in charge of the Nomadik 5-1 win over Kolonial earlier this year, as well as Kolonial’s final-day triumph last season.

2:59PM: They’re out! Coming out to one of the loudest roars you’ll ever hear at Der Hafen, the sides are on the pitch, and we’re about to kick off across the country for Super Sunday. Here we go!

1’ Nomadik come so close, just a minute in! Aksel’s cross found the head of Morten, but his header was just over the bar. Nomadik’s supporters urge their team on here, it’s still 0-0 at Der Hafen.

10’ The first goal of the day! Divtasvuodno take the lead against FJ Gaivuotna, with Joel Simit finding the back of the net from the top of the box. 1-0 for the Bears.

13’ Nomadik are really going all-out offensively here against Kolonial, but it’s leaving them somewhat open at the back, and a great counter-attack here by Kolonial comes very close, Lavo just missing the net.

15’ Around the grounds, we’re knotted at 0-0 everywhere except for Gaivuotna, where Divtasvuodno have a 1-0 lead through that Joel Simit goal.

19’ Kolonial are looking very strong in this first half now, as they’ve adapted well to deal with Aksel and Elias Nilse out wide. Hentto and Lars Harrer are tracking back, and Rasmos and Simon Husch are almost entirely focused on defending, meaning much of Nomadik’s attacks lack a certain sting.

25’ 2-0 for Divtasvuodno! This time it was a Lemet cross into the box that meets the head of Niba, he wouldn’t be denied and the Bears build on their advantage.

26’ Just moments later, we have news from Deatnu - Davvenasti have taken the lead! There was some chaos in the box after a corner, the ball fell to Ruigi, and his 15th of the year puts the Stars in front.

29’ A goal at Der Hafen! Catching Nomadik by surprise on a counter, Simon Husch surged forward, sent in a cross, and Lavo got a head to it! The fans love it, and Kolonial are in the lead! Kolonial 1-0 Nomadik

30’ A flurry of activity in the last 5 minutes, and there’s news in almost every stadium across the country. FJ Gaivuota 0-2 Divtasvuodno, GS Deatnu 0-1 Davvenasti, and Kolonial 1-0 Nomadik - only FC Sankt Leopold 0-0 FJ Girona remains scoreless.

33’ Talk about surprise! It’s a second goal for Kolonial! Bastian Kreuzberg intercepted a Gappe pass in midfield before finding his partner Iskko, who started a great move that enabled most of the Kolonial side to get forward. Iskko found Lars Herrer on the wing, who was able to cut in and power a shot that beats Lejo to the right corner. Kolonial 2-0 Nomadik

38’ Nomadik have one back at Der Hafen! They’ve almost been reduced entirely to the long ball here, that’s how effective Kolonial have been at closing down the wingers, but this time it’s a ball sent forward from Lenne that Morten picks up, and scores a great solo effort from distance. It’s a pretty goal, but Nomadik need a bit more quality if they’re to win this one. Kolonial 2-1 Nomadik

42’ We’ve got a penalty in Sankt Leopold! Rudolf Klempner was fouled in the box by Eiven, and the ref points to the spot. What a moment this could be in the game!

43’ Klempner and Lagon debate who should take it, it looks like it’ll be Klempner, who is 3 for 4 this year… hit perfectly! Top left corner, no doubt, Sankt Leopold are 1-0 up on Girona on the edge of the half!

45’ We’re into stoppage time across the country, 3 minutes at Der Hafen, 2 everywhere else.

45+2’ Oh dear! It’s the stuff of nightmares for Nomadik. Lejo’s goal kick was poor, and was picked off by Timo Hackl who surged forward, rounded the keeper and knocked it in to make it 3-1 for Kolonial. Lejo’s got his head in his hands, he knows it’s a brutal mistake in a game like this, and the Kolonial fans behind him are taunting him. Kolonial 3-1 Nomadik

45+3’ That’s the half across the country. Let’s check on our scores: GS Deatnu 0-1 Davvenasti, FJ Gaivuotna 0-2 Divtasvuodno, FC Sankt Leopold 1-0 FJ Girona, Kolonial 3-1 Nomadik. We’ll be back in 15 for the second half.

46’ No major changes to report at the half - although it’s clear Nomadik are going to go for it in this second half. The effect on momentum that last-minute goal will have on them is yet to be seen.

48’ Lejo is taking a ton of abuse from the Kolonial supporters here - any time the ball is near him, they’re sarcastically cheering. His first successful goal kick of the half was met with ironic cheers as if Kolonial had just scored. It’s going to be a rough 45 minutes for him if Nomadik can’t turn this around.

53’ 2 for Davvenasti! Aron knocks it in at the back post off a corner, and GS Deatnu now trail 2-0 in their final home match of the season.

60’ Quick updates across the country: GS Deatnu 0-2 Davvenasti, FJ Gaivuotna 0-2 Divtasvuodno. FC Sankt Leopold’s 1-0 lead on FJ Girona will secure them IFCF football if they can hold onto it, while as things stand Kolonial are champions with a 3-1 lead over Nomadik.

65’ Girona miss a great chance, Simit knocking it just wide - and we’re getting word there’s been a goal in Gaivuotna! Divtasvuodno now lead 3-0 thanks to a great individual effort from Joel Simit, who gets his second of the game.

68’ Goal! Kolonial! Once again, Iskko was the creative engine behind the play, making a brilliant move to leave Gappe behind him. With space opening up ahead of him, a great pass found Lavo on the edge of the box. The young forward would work his way in and beat Lejo with a great shot. Kolonial 4-1 Nomadik!

71’ It’s getting out of hand now! Lavo goes down in the box, fouled by Ovla, and referee Raidu points to the spot! Lavo is back up quickly, not wasting any time, and he blasts a penalty into the top right corner! Kolonial’s fans are celebrating wildly, while the away support can barely keep watching! Kolonial 5-1 Nomadik

77’ Goal for Divtasvuodno. The corner was swung in by Nihkul Jorge, and Joha was inexplicably left wide open. He gets a head to it, and this one’s in no doubt: Gaivuotna 0-4 Divtasvuodno

80’ 10 minutes left across the country, here’s one last scores update. GS Deatnu 0-2 Davvenasti, FJ Gaivuotna 0-4 Divtasvuodno, FC Sankt Leopold 1-0 FJ Girona, and Kolonial 5-1 Nomadik. As things stand, 4th place belongs to Sankt Leopold and the title to Kolonial.

81’ FC Sankt Leopold are hanging on for dear life here at Klippenrand, Per Scholl is putting in a real shift here as they attempt to keep out the onslaught of FJ Girona.

83’ At Der Hafen, meanwhile, it’s a party for the Kolonial fans in attendance! You’ve never heard ‘Soldier of Teusland’ so loud, and there’s a few other chants doing the rounds. As expected, they’ve brought out ‘48 times and 1521, do da, do da’ already, but the current favourite appears to be one that’ll sting the most for the away support: “Let’s all laugh at Nomadik, let’s all laugh at Nomadik, ha-ha ha ha, ha-ha ha ha!”

86’ It doesn’t get any better for the visitors today. Good work by Kolonial around the box, a pass from Timo Hackl to Iskko at the top of the box, and a goal to cap off a hard days’ work for the league’s best player. Kolonial 6-1 Nomadik. Iskko runs over to taunt the Nomadik support, he must love this feeling, to humiliate the club whose supporters call him a traitor to the Albmoti people and sent him death threats when he signed for Kolonial as a youth, but by this point, the visiting fans are too numb to react to the provocation.

89’ They’ve had to stop the game at Der Hafen, the Kolonial supporters are storming the pitch to celebrate their big derby day and title win. Some of them head instantly for the Nomadik section armed with whatever they can find on the ground, and the police are on top of it. Some of the Kolonial fans embrace their players, who are moments away from another title.

90’ Into extra time here across the country, 3 minutes everywhere except Der Hafen, where there’s only 1 more minute of torture for these Nomadik fans. It remains to be seen if they’ll get back underway, though - there are plenty of people on the pitch.

90+2’ What a save! That could be the biggest moment of the year for FC Sankt Leopold, as keeper Moritz Prantl punches away a Gahppa shot that seemed destined for the net. Sankt Leopold are moments away from qualifying for IFCF football!

90+3’ Yep! Full time in Deatnu, Gaivuotna and Sankt Leopold. GS Deatnu 0-2 Davvenasti, FJ Gaivuotna 0-4 Divtasvuodno, and FC Sankt Leopold 1-0 FJ Girona! Sankt Leopold are going to the Challengers’ Cup! Back at Der Hafen, meanwhile, they’ve just put an announcement on asking the fans to clear the pitch, and the police are helping to sort things out.

90+5’ We’re back underway at Der Hafen now, but it’s a totally muted atmosphere, Nomadik just seeming to want to get it over with. I can’t see Raidu letting it go on much longer now.

90+6’ The final whistle! Kolonial are champions! Pitch invasion part II, while the Nomadik supporters silently slink towards the exits, heads in hands. On the field, meanwhile, it’s a huge party - the squad and supporters celebrating #48 together. Outside in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz, fans fill the square as they come out of pubs and homes to celebrate in the streets.

4:58PM: And now the trophy is coming out, the Sankt Konrad Fire Service carrying it to the waiting arms of Bastian Kreuzberg. There’s still fans on the pitch, but they’ve made space for their heroes to receive the trophy.

5:00PM: Kreuzberg lifts the trophy high for the third year in a row, and thanks his teammates and fans for the great season, pledging to meet back here next year, same time, same place. The fans chant ‘We want 50!’ to which Kreuzberg answers, ‘It’s coming!’

5:04PM: The evening edition of the Wilhelmstadt Zeitung has just hit the press, with the cover “Red Sunday II: Red Massacre! Kolonial Champions Again! Danke, Pioniere!” Bladdi, meanwhile, have gone for a more blunt headline: “Why?”

5:10PM: That wraps up our live coverage from the Raidodassi’s final day, as Kolonial win another title, and FC Sankt Leopold make their wildest dreams come true as they qualify for IFCF football. From all of us at Radio Sankt Konrad, thank you for joining us. Here are the final results from Matchday 28:

GS Deatnu 0–2 Davvenasti
FJ Gaivuotna 0–4 Divtasvuodno
FC Sankt Leopold 1–0 FJ Girona
Kolonial 6–1 Nomadik

Raidodassi Season Awards

Golden Ball: Iskko (Kolonial)
Golden Boot: Lavo, 26 goals (Kolonial)
Golden Glove: Lejo (Nomadik)
Young Player of the Year: Lavo (Kolonial)
Manager of the Year: Klemens Bischoff (FC Sankt Leopold)

Best XI

GK -- Lejo (Nomadik)
LB -- Simon Husch (Kolonial)
CB -- Rede (Kolonial)
CB -- Nilpa (Kolonial)
RB -- Rastos (Nomadik)
LM -- Joel Simit (Divtasvuodno)
CM -- Iskko (Kolonial)
RM -- Carl Weis (FC Sankt Leopold)
LW -- Aksel (Nomadik)
RW -- Elias Nilse (Nomadik)
CF -- Lavo (Kolonial)

A subs bench was also named for the Best XI, consisting of GK Fretterat (Divtasvuodno), DF Per Scholl (FC Sankt Leopold), DF Joha (Divtasvuodno), MF Bastian Kreuzberg (Kolonial), MF Gappe (Nomadik), MF Lars Herrer (Kolonial), CF Morten (Nomadik)

SKFA Cup Final

FJ Girona 1-1 Divtasvuodno (1-1 AET, 2-4 pen.)

Divtasvuodno’s 36-year Cup drought comes to an end tonight, as they take home the SKFA Cup thanks to a penalties win over FJ Girona! The match was relatively even through 90 minutes, with FJ Girona taking a lead in the first half through Ailun Rede. Divtasvuodno wouldn’t be denied an equalizer, however, and they really put the pressure on before Niba scored the equalizing goal. Into extra time, the Bears seemed to be the side with fresher legs, and a shot by Niba went just wide in the final minutes of the extra frame. That sent the sides to penalties. Niba scored for Divtasvuodno, Simit for Girona. Joel Simit scored for Divtas, but Ailun Rede missed his penalty. That gave Divtasvuodno the advantage the rest of the way - they wouldn’t miss a single penalty, and when Filpa Iiskku missed for Girona, it gave the Bears the Cup! There were huge celebrations, both at Der Hafen and back home in the town itself, as fans eagerly awaited the trophy to come to town. After the match, Divtas manager Julejus was quite bold when he stated “Winning a trophy like this is brilliant, it’s a big boost to the lads - and we want to be involved in that title race next year, so this win will inspire us for that.”

# Silbadassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
1 FC Sankt Anna          28   16   7   5    42   19  +23    55     Champions/Promoted
2 FJ Varis Skaidi        28   15   9   4    50   28  +22    54
3 Guovdageidnu           28   14   4  10    34   27   +7    46
4 FJ Jokkohakko          28   13   6   9    35   29   +6    45
5 FK Wilhelmstadt        28   10   5  13    28   32   −4    35
6 Varis Deatnu           28    8   7  13    25   33   −8    31
7 Hafenarbeiter          28    7   5  16    22   44  −22    26
8 Poliisa                28    4   7  17    21   45  −24    19

The Good: FC Sankt Anna overturned a 7-point deficit at the halfway point to come away as Silbadassi champions, and earn promotion to the Raidodassi! They’ll be competing with rivals and neighbouring town FC Sankt Leopold next year, although they’ll surely face a struggle as the only semi-pro team in the league. Guovdageidnu were much-improved from last year, and as their young squad continued to grow throughout the year, they might be one to watch in the upcoming promotion races. FJ Jokkohakko also had a solid campaign, while amateurs FK Wilhelmstadt performed admirably.

The Bad: FJ Varis Skaidi will be unhappy with losing the lead and missing out on instant promotion, especially as it’s likely GS Deatnu will be going right back up next season as the only professional team in the division. Varis Deatnu had a nightmare year, finishing 6th, and have work to do in all areas of the pitch - although they’ll be looking forward to a Deatnu derby next season for sure. You can’t fault Poliisa too much - they are, after all, an amateur team - but finishing that far off the pace is a bit disappointing for them.

#  SKFA Academy League      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Nomadik                   32   19   7   6    50   23  +27    64     Champions/Rising Stars' Cup
 2 Teussen Sankt Konrad      32   18   9   5    61   28  +33    63
 3 FJ Gaivuotna              32   18   3  11    40   25  +15    57
 4 Kolonial                  32   17   6   9    36   25  +11    57
 5 FJ Girona                 32   16   3  13    33   32   +1    51
 6 Divtasvuodno              32    9   8  15    32   38   −6    35
 7 GS Deatnu                 32    9   3  20    24   58  −34    30
 8 FC Sankt Leopold          32    6   7  19    28   45  −17    25
 9 Davvenasti                32    6   6  20    20   50  −30    24

Nomadik take home the Academy League title for a second straight year! A current great generation of youth is on the way through at the club, including CF Gusto and CB Heaibmu, the later of whom was integral in the title win. Nomadik also managed to reach the Quarterfinal stage of the IFCF Rising Stars’ Cup on their first try at the competition. The run included big wins such as a 1-0 win over Banija’s Herzegovina City FC, a 4-0 win over Nepharim side Crisisbless in the Round of 16, before falling 1-0 to eventual runners-up Rene Skae of Farfadillis in the Quarterfinal. Nomadik will get a second shot at the competition this year. Right behind them were Teussen Sankt Konrad, the local youth wing of FC Teussen Stelburg, who have a great young squad coming through. Every few years there’s talk of a player who might be able to make the jump to the Republikaliga club, and 16 year old left winger Gustaf Lichtenstein is the latest to fit that bill, already a very strong player in this division. While he’ll likely end up in the Kolonial or Sankt Leopold lineup one day, there are rumours that Teussen rate him quite high. FJ Gaivuotna were third - led by Golden Ball winner and top prospect in the nation Johan Ertno. The technical midfielder may be one of the most gifted players this country has ever produced, and while he was dominant for the youth side this year, there wasn’t much of a supporting cast around him. He’ll probably spend one more year in the Academy League before making the jump to senior football. Kolonial were a bit unlucky to come in fourth, a bit of a transition year for them as some players graduate to the first team’s bench, they’ve got a decent young squad, however, and CM Tobias Edelstein is seen as the eventual heir to Bastian Kreuzberg in midfield.

# Raidodassi            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
1 Kolonial               28   20   4   4    99   45  +54    64     Champions/IFCF Champions' League
2 Nomadik                28   19   4   5    71   31  +40    61     IFCF Challengers' Cup
3 Divtasvuodno           28   14   6   8    56   51   +5    48
4 FC Sankt Leopold       28   11   2  15    42   61  −19    35
5 FJ Girona              28    9   7  12    32   38   −6    34
6 FJ Gaivuotna           28    8   5  15    42   52  −10    29
7 Davvenasti             28    8   5  15    35   65  −30    29
8 GS Deatnu              28    4   5  19    29   63  −34    17     Relegated

Sankt Konrad (SKR) Qualifiers:
Puppet of Siovanija & Teusland (STL)

IFCF Champions’ League: Kolonial
IFCF Challengers’ Cup: Nomadik, Divtasvuodno, FC Sankt Leopold
IFCF Rising Stars Cup: Nomadik
Cygnus Cup/IFCF Cup Winners’ Cup: Divtasvuodno
Rushmori Copa de Campeones: Kolonial