Stunning reforms announced as the RBSA, BISA, and the FFFF announce unification of top-flight domestic football
The logo of the new Shango-Fogoa Premier League
BUSUKUMA, NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION- COCANEFA. The Terranean League. The V-League. The United League. These are just a few examples of current or former multi-associational leagues that have dotted the footballing landscape. And when the RBSA, BISA, and the FFFF convened a joint press conference to announce 'major structural reforms' to domestic football in this corner of the Glorious Southwest, all sorts of theories started flying around twii.tur. Why would they be announcing a random press conference? What sort of reforms would they be going through? Both the RBSA and the FFFF have been preparing for some sort of structural reform throughout the year, but there have been relatively few hints that they were doing so together.
But of course, your favorite sporting magazine, the #1 source on Banijan sports, was there as soon as the press conference was announced. We asked questions, we stayed for the details, and have talked to all the necessary people behind the scenes. Here is the joint endeavor that the RBSA, BISA, and the FFFF have been planning over all this time.
The Shango-Fogoa Premier League(S-FPL)
This, of course, is the crown jewel of the project. RBSA Executive Chairman Robel Ezera told reporters that the unification of the top flights would be beneficial for the growth of football in both countries. "This provides a great avenue for the teams of both Banija and Farfadillis to get stronger. Ensuring that they are playing better competition, week in week out, improves the play on the field, and has plenty of knock on effects. Myself and President Teran have been working on this project for the better part of the year. It is why our media rights deals have been delayed, why the owners meetings have been consistently happening throughout the year. Just yesterday, the RBSA club owners approved the deal with an overwhelming majority, with 64 out of our 68 clubs voting in favor of the changes."
So what exactly is the Shango-Fogoa Premier League? This will be the new top-flight division for Farfadillis, Banija, and the Busoga Islands. It is named after the Shango-Fogoa Basin, the body of water between Banija, Farfadillis, and the Busoga Islands. It is a relatively simple format, exactly what Banijan fans are used to. 20 teams, double round robin, for a 38 game schedule. No playoffs. 10 clubs from the RBSA, and 10 clubs from the FFFF. That will be a permanent number- relegation will occur on a national basis. Remember, for domestic purposes, all six Busoga Islander clubs are full members of the RBSA. The 10 Farf teams who participated in the most recent edition of the FFL will be the 10 Farf squads for the S-FPL. Those squads are Rülândéá Kôstä, René Skaé, Mâ Âlâmëomë, La Nueva Avenida, Dí Maozöxê, Lâ Lüs, Ausharmuj Marusi, Avenida Leal, Avenida Prinicipal, and La Querida.
Who will be the ten BSL clubs? The owners have fierce debates, but have voted on the 10. A mixture of the league table and business decisions were made. The Super 5 clubs will obviously participate- Busukuma AC, Istria City FC, Jinja City FC, Herzegovina City FC, and the BSL champions, the Hoima Warriors. The other five Banijan clubs will be Umbazi Metrpolitan SC, Lakiska SC, and Kitara AA based on sporting merit, while Mynda Electra and the Busembe Timberwolves will also participate.
That leaves the last basic question- are those 20 teams fixed forever? Or will it be an open league? Well, there will be promotion and relegation. Promotion and relegation will occur on a national basis. The FFFF, in typical fashion, has not determined how promotion/relegation will work for the Farf clubs. The RBSA, however, announced how it will work on the Banijan side. Just like before, there will only be one side relegated- the worst finishing Banijan team will be relegated every season. And, of course, the champion of Banija's second tier will be promoted to the S-FPL.
What about the rest of the Banijan Pyramid?
Now, of course, we aren't simply eliminating the rest of the pyramid. Instead, structural reforms are being implemented. The Banijan Soccer League will still exist, in name and logo, and as a national league. It will now, however, become Banija's second tier. Only the top flight leagues between Farfadillis and Banija will be eliminated, as both countries will keep their own lower leagues. The new look Banijan Soccer League will be 18 teams. The 10 BSL teams that were not chosen for the S-FPL will participate in the Banijan Soccer League. Furthermore, the top two finishing teams in the most recent season of each of the regional leagues will automatically join the Banijan Soccer League. That league will be 18 teams, but otherwise keep the same format- double round robin, no playoffs, for a total of 34 games.
That also takes us down to tier 3. The Banijan regional leagues will largely exist, in their present formats. But instead of 12 teams per league, there will be 10, since 2 teams from each league were moved to tier 2. So the existing regional leagues will still exist, and will still be fully professional, and will still play four games per season. They are just the third tier now, instead of the second. Promotion/relegation between the BSL and the regional leagues will remain the same- just one spot going up and down, a Promotion playoff between the four regional league champions to determine who gets that spot.
So the Banijan pyramid is now the following. Tier 1- The S-FPL, shared with Farfadillis. Tier 2- the BSL, a national league. Tier 3, the four regional leagues, equally co-existing in tier 3. Robel Ezera, the RBSA's Executive Chairman, said that this was good for the teams. "We had issues with fixture congestion at our lower levels." He told reporters. "44 games a year, plus cup games and LBCT, was quite a lot. Players would be run ragged, and then when you add in international play, especially for the Busogans, their players would be worn out. This will ensure players can keep up energy levels. As for the BSL, this is good for them as well. Less disparity in terms of talent means you'll have very good games at that level, and even though 10 teams have effectively been relegated, they have been put in a better position for long-term success because of this."
The RBSA and FFFF confirmed media rights deals in Banija, Busoga, and Farfadillis for the new look league, and the RBSA further confirmed deals for the new look BSL and the regional league system. While exact figures were not out, sources said that they were worth "several multiples" of the amount that the old BSL contracts were worth.
What about the Cups?
The federations will also unify their domestic cups. The exact format will be released later, but the cups will be national until the quarterfinals, when they are joined. Four Farf clubs and four Banijan clubs will be guaranteed berths in the quarterfinals of the Cup. The cup's sponsorship rights have been sold jointly to Boom! corporation in Farfadillis, and the Regional Transit Corporation. The official name of the tournament is the Boom! RTC Cup.
The cup, of course, will comprise all the teams in all the federations, and will act as the qualifying tournament for the IFCF Cup Winner's Cup. The Final's location shall rotate between Farfadillis, Busoga Islands, and the Kingdom of Banija.
Massive reforms. Who would've saw this coming? Know this- a new era of club football is underway in the Glorious Southwest, and we are strapped in for the ride.