Nation Name: The Republic of Port Ember
Trigramme: PE
Demonym: Port Emberian(s)
Nickname: The Dragons
Sponsors: Gudfrey's Trading Company; Hydra Industries; Reaver Industries
Style Modifier: +3
Formation: 4-4-2
Team Colors: Primary - Blue & White; Secondary Black & Red.
OOC: Logo & Kit supplied by the awesome Brusseldorf
Port Ember: A Brief Overview
The Republic of Port Ember is a nation comprising a tropical archipelago within the Northern Ocean and is considered as a regional superpower and international economic giant. The tropical nation is governed as a constitutional democracy in the form of a Republic. The nation considers itself as a champion for personal liberty and economic freedom, and is seen as one of the most free and wealthiest nations in the world. The two billion citizens are considered to be world wise and innovative, considering the art of world trade & travel, making money and engaging in bar brawls as the foundation of their national culture. The nation also possesses two colonies - Braziliztan and Port Arthur which they gained during bloody wars to uphold international freedom and human rights.
Port Ember: A Brief Football History
Prior to World Cup 83, Port Ember had a very limited football culture and infrastructure, with interest and development on par with international amateur leagues. The sport slowly gained interest within the Republic due to the widespread media coverage the sport received within the nation, and slowly but surely, the masses started calling for Port Ember to enter the international football scene. The people's voices were heard and the Port Ember Football Association (PEFA) received a massive financial injection with which to kick start the road to enter the international scene. PEFA established the "Port Emberian Youth Football Project", which saw a large group of 14-year old children chosen to become the future of Port Emberian football - training together and being developed into future stars. Four years later the team was finally ready to storm the world - and they did so by participating in the Baptism of Fire 70 tournament. Although they failed to win the tournament as hoped, they won Bronze for finishing in third place. Although only achieving third place, this tournament was a massive victory for PEFA since it managed to wake a sleeping giant- the entire nation rallied behind the national team and the team turned into national heroes and idols overnight. Modern, state of the art stadiums jumped up across the nation, quickly filled by passionate fans supporting the newly formed domestic clubs. Children and adults alike took to the streets and local stadiums to kick ball - creating a massive pool of new potential players on a scale never seen before in any sport in Port Emberian history. Next, the inexperienced but passionate Dragons entered the qualification campaign for World Cup 83, meeting true professional giants in the footballing world. Although failing to qualify for the World Cup proper, the team managed to make a massive wave on the international stage - showing the world that they had the capability to cause upset after upset, relying on pure passion, fitness and youth despite their inexperience. Their strong showing in the qualifier campaign earned them an invitation to the esteemed Cup of Harmony 75 tournament. Once again the young team was seen as complete underdogs against the giants of the tournament. Again the young Port Emberian squad managed to cause spectacular upsets, finally being knocked out in the Quarterfinals of the Cup. Returning home, the new heroes joined the newly formed domestic league and laid the foundation of a modern and professional football league and infrastructure.
The Qualification campaign for World Cup 84 commenced, with the Dragons once again being considered underdogs in the face of very strong and established teams. After a rocky start, the team shocked the world as they took their group by storm, winning 10 consecutive matches, qualifying for the World Cup proper by grabbing the runner up spot in their group - becoming one of few teams who could manage to qualify for the grandest stage of them all, on only their second attempt. The lowest ranked side of the tournament celebrated a bit too soon as they were torn back to humility in the World Cup, losing all their World Cup games, failing to enter the Knockout Stages. The team continued to build and hone their technical skills whilst retaining their passion and fitness in an attempt to prove that they were not lucky - they were here to stay.
They managed to prove to the world and themselves that they belonged on the international stage during the Independent Association Cup 9, grabbing Bronze in the end.
The peak of the Port Emberian 'Golden Era' seemed to have come to a grizzly end after the constant morbid events which took place during the World Cup 85 Qualification Season. Firstly, fame and success finally caught up with the young orphans of the squad, leading the squad to overindulge in extreme parties, with an emphasis placed on the consumption of alcohol, recreational rugs - and the attention from the fairer sex. This led to constant arguments and brawls between the team members, both in public, during practice sessions - and even on the pitch during matches. This period of unrest quickly reached boiling point as one player, Frazer Murray, brutally murdered the team's captain and star player, Ray Reddington in a local coffee shop. Frazer pleaded guilty to the murder charges, and was executed by lethal injection one day before the last match day of the Qualification Season. The man who established and led the team from the very start - the Head Coach & Manager, Stuart Baxter, resigned with immediate effect when Reddington was murdered. The national hero was found dead by suicide a few days before the end of the last season.
This emotionally broken team reluctantly entered the 77th rendition of the Cup of Harmony, in hopes that they could restore the name of the 'Dark Horse Underdogs' - and perhaps regain some faith within the world which has so crushed them. This was not to be however, as they were knocked out of the knockout rounds before they could reach the Quarterfinals.
Following this disaster, the domestic leagues grew ever larger and more successful, drawing legions of new talent, new money and new supporters to the new and modern stadiums. Despite this evolvement, PEFA remained stubborn and steadfast in their ways - refusing to select new players or staff members for the national squad, choosing to rely on the original heroes who have build the sport into the legend it was currently - yet who have mostly passed their prime, and have succumb to the depression of the morbid events which have marked their team.
The error of PEFA's choices were highlighted when the Dragons faltered at the Independent Association Cup 10, and continued to yet again fail to qualify for the World Cup 86 proper.
With a new Chairman, PEFA has changed its ways completely, and have selected an entire new squad - staff members included - to attempt to relive the Golden Days of the past. They will now partake in the Independent Associations Cup 11 to test their new squad prior to the World Cup 87 qualification campaign.
Staff Members
Team Manager: Valentine Oliver
Assistant Head Coach: Danny Nicovic
Attacking Coach: Leon Moult.
Defensive Coach: Daryl House.
Goalkeeping Coach: Peter Smith
Fitness Coach: Dusty Russel
Team Doctor: Dr Toby Curtiss
Massage Therapist: Jessica Day
Physiotherapist: Dr Jolene Michels
Starting XI
Backline
#1 (GK) || Ilbert Moses || Age 22 || Greenfield Bulls
#2 (CB) || Craig Ramsey || Age 22 || Waterstad Pirates
#3 (CB) || Jason Lee || Age 34 || Greenfield Bulls
#4 (LB) || Adam Reynell || Age 22 || Greenfield Bulls
#5 (RB) || Elihu Frost || Age 22 || Amanaki FC
Midfield
#6 (AM) || Jason Chamberlain
|| Age 22 || Thurston FC
#7 (DM) || Steven Packard || Age 34 || Eden FC
#8 (LM) || Tàmhas Savage || Age 22 || Real Beras
#9 (RM) || Finnbar Cox || Age 22 || Gold Coast Raiders
Strikers
#10 (CF) || Donald Vroomen || Age 22 || Lilly Black Kings
#11 (CF) || Charlton Townsend || Age 22 || Lilly Black Kings
Reserves
Backline
#12 (GK) || Floris Shepard || Age 22 || Eden Fc
#13 (GK) || Claud Hanson || Age 22 || Thurston FC
#14 (CB) || Dominick Mclean || Age 22 || Blacklake FC
#15 (CB) || Rowland Mclean || Age 22 || Beras FC
#16 (LB) || Brantley Heimans || Age 22 || Beras FC
#17 (RB) || Tracy Paddon || Age 22 || Blacklake FC
Midfield
#18 (AM) || Devon Campbell || Age 22 || Nirvana FC
#19 (DM) || Jozefo Van Dalen || Age 22 || Amanaki Coast
#20 (LM) || Gib Aaldenberg || Age 22 || Amanaki Coast
#21 (RM) || Maoilios Priestley || Age 22 || Nirvana FC
Strikers
#22 (CF) || Collin Cockburn || Age 22 || Blacklake FC
#23 (CF) || Conall Stevens || Age 22 || Blacklake FC
Typical Gameplan
The team has quite an unique play-style, reflecting much on the genetics of the average Port Emberian. They prefer a fast, aggressive and hard game, playing to their benefits of being an athletic and powerful race. Their 'Signature Play' is an interesting one, which can almost be seen as a gamble. A possibly effective gamble however. They would bait the opposition to push far ahead to their goal area hard, to lure most opponent players into their half of the field. Thereafter the strong and aggressive defense would steal the possession from the opponents, and powerfully kick the ball deep to the other side of the field, where the Port Emberian strikers would use their athleticism to chase down the ball in a counter attack, outrunning the majority of the opponents, and pushing hard until a goal is scored. It is due to this play-style that the local sports-wires have dubbed it a "Aggressive Counter Attack Style".
The Fans
The national team enjoys a very large supporter base, with fans being nearly fanatical in their support.
When matches are being played, most businesses closes down for the duration of the derby, allowing their employees to watch the match at home or a local pub.
For the duration of the IAC, thousands upon thousands of fans are expected to flock towards the hosting nation.
The official fanclub of the squad is known as "The Traveling Buccaneers", and can be identified at the games due to being painted completely blue with body paint, and some wielding trumpets.
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes
Godmod other events: Yes
Basically just remember the 'Do upon others' rule...