All-Banija Sports Magazine

by **Banija** » Fri May 26, 2023 5:51 pm

Greater Banijan Hockey League Season 9 - Basic Information & Rosters

Welcome to Season 9 of the Greater Banijan Hockey League! This league is now a 20 team league, divided into two conferences- the Southwest and the North Conference. With the distinct lack of winter in Banija, this league consists of teams from across the multiverse, playing in various Banijan migrant communities that are part of other nations. There are currently 20 teams in 17 different countries- only four of them in Banija(and three of them are expansion teams)

Teams play an 8 game round robin against conference opponents only 72 regular season games. 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw. This season all games will end in 60 minutes- there are no shootouts, just regulation draws, regulation wins, and regulation losses.

With expansion of the league, the GBHL is expanding the playoffs. The top team in each conference is declared the conference champion. The other playoff spots go to the #2 teams in each conference, plus the next 4 best teams overall. 8 teams, all entering in the first round. It will be seeded- 1v8, 2v7, etc... (although the 1 and 2 seeds must be conference champions). The first round series will be a best of 5, while the semifinal and Championship series will be a Best of 7.

As for HCL Qualification, the two regular season conference champions, plus the two teams in the Championship Series will go to the HCL. If there is overlap, of course, spots go to the highest seeds remaining who lost in the Semifinal rounds.

Southwest Division

St. Jakob Crusaders
Location: St.Jakob, Siovanija & Teusland
Stadium: Prenzlauer Eispalast, Capacity of 17,500

The Crusaders are located in one of Siovanija's most important cities, St.Jakob. It is a large city, with a metropolitan population of nearly 4 million people. This sport is one that is certainly king in Siovanija & Teusland- the country's most popular sporting league is the Ehrenliga, their national, top-flight hockey league. And at the national team level, they've won a threepeat of World Cups of Hockey. The city has two teams in the Ehrenliga already, the St.Jakob Saints and EHC Kosmopolit, who are both well supported, though the Saints are generally recognized as having the bigger fanbase.

In terms of the Banijans in the city, most of them are working class. Many work in the dockyards and other industrial jobs, but make a fairly decent living for themselves. There are an estimated 60,000 Banijans in St.Jakob, a coastal city in the Glorious Southwest. As one of the larger migrant communities, it is a community that is fairly well integrated into Siovanijan life, and therefore are expected to be very supportive of the team. Most of the Banijans live in Marienfelde, a neighborhood on the north bank of the River Drai, which runs right along the coast of St.Jakob and Teusland in general. The neighborhood has become an ethnic Banijan neighborhood, with many Banijan restaurants and a Puritan Mormon temple opening up there.

Easily the league's most successful franchise without a title, they are hoping desperately for one.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 7 (Seasons 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )
HCL Appearances: 6 (Seasons 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 )
Conference Titles: 6 (Seasons 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 )
League Titles: None

Head Coach: Molatedi Tirotsaone. 54 years old.
Goaltender: Adama Sanko. Age 29.
Line 1
Right Defense: Gilead Obuo. Age 33
Left Defense: Mugaba Ssejemba. Age 27
Right Wing: Okello Muluku. Age 25
Center: Onyango Jow. Age 35. Captain.
Left Wing: Nyatui Ssekisozi. Age 28
Line 2
Right Defense: Zion Ahenda. Age 26
Left Defense: Tekoa Akinyi. Age 20
Right Wing: Orlando Owuor. Age 19
Center: Marcus Samba. Age 31
Left Wing: Joniah Olango. Age 24

Mansfield Warriors
Location: Mansfield, Commonwealth of Baker Park
Stadium: Bartlett Arena

We'll go to Mansfield, on the eastern side of the Commonwealth of Baker Park. Technically, of course, this is the only team in the division that is not in the Southwest, as Baker Park is in central Atlantian Oceania. This was one of the first cities that was on the BHF's expansion wish list last season, and they got it. In Kabaka Mwanga's state visit to the Commonwealth of Baker Park, the city and the community played host to His Majesty for a few hours. Most Banijans are generally working class in the city, a city that is known for its automobile production. The city, of course, has been very welcoming to Banijans, as they certainly needed extra hands.

Many Banijans face good prospects, with good, union pay working on the lines, and excellent public schools for their children to attend, as they are eligible to attend Baker Park public universities. The Mansfield side got more support from the locals than many teams got, as both the Commonwealth Hockey Association, their professional league, and the Commonwealth Hockey Federation, their national governing body, were both enthusiastic partners in the venture. The local CHA hockey side, the Mansfield Maroons, have also shown their support, giving the team a generous stadium-sharing agreement.

The Maroons and the CHF have each taken a 1/6th ownership venture, meaning that 1/3rd of the side will be owned by local investors. The local Mansfield Puritan Temple owns slightly less than 1/6th of the side as well, while Banijan millionaire investor Isaac Labamba, an avid hockey fan who has family in Mansfield, has taken a 50%+! ownership stake in the team, and made himself majority owner. Labamba said that he was 'excited' for the partnership, and that working with the Maroons and the CHF will allow his team to garner support from Banijans all across the country, as well as ensure its success by making sure that the partnership between the GBHL, the CHF, his side, and the Maroons, runs smoothly. It is a stable situation that has worked in the past, and looks likely to continue to work.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 5 (Seasons 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )
HCL Appearances: 3 (Season 5, 6, 7)
Conference Titles: 1 (Season 7)
League Titles: 1 (Season 7)

Head Coach: Maatla Setso. 76 years old.
Goaltender: Muhangi Jjemba Age 31
Line 1
Right Defense: Sera Mukuuma. Age 21
Left Defense: Jokadu Kitaya. Age 20
Right Wing: Paul Misiani. Age 31. Captain.
Left Wing: Jimiyu Binjogoli. Age 36
Center: Akiiki Muwamba. Age 36
Line 2
Right Defense: Katungi Musanalumbwa. Age 23
Left Defense: Tukesiga Kisala. Age 24
Right Wing: Kusemererwa Kisanje. Age 25
Left Wing: Rokani Kaswaswa. Age 29
Center: Mulogo Mufuumuula Age. 29

Stalliongrad Mountaineers
Location: Stalliongrad, Equestrian States

Naturally, of course, we have the Equestrian States. Stalliongrad, home to so many of Banija's Winter Olympians, plays host to one of the league's original sides. In the shadow of the Harmony Mountains, as the Winter Olympiad is around the corner, it is a city home to numerous Banijan Winter Olympians.

Staillionograd is a city that is a mile above sea level. Very cold, and there is plenty of support for hockey. Stallionograd had the highest foreign ratings of the Banija vs. Equestrian States group stage game in the previous World Cup of Hockey, where the large portion of Banijan fans made it a huge rivalry game, at least in these parts.

Stallionograd looks to have good support both from locals and Banijans. There will be hockey talent, and they will be able to draw from a local talent base that is at least decently deep. With hockey and other sports to draw athletes from, they will be able to develop a strong stable of talent here.

On the ice, one of the original franchises of the GBHL started with a lot of success, winning a league title in Season 2 and making 4 straight HCL appearances in this league- amidst 6 straight playoff appearances. However, the last two seasons, they've fallen off drastically, from consistent playoff performers to finishing 2nd from the bottom in their conference two years in a row. They are looking to get back to the big time.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 6 (Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
HCL Appearances: 4 (Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 1 (Season 2)

Head Coach: Senyange Katábula. 51 years old.
Goaltender: Katungi Bunyaata. Age 35
Line 1
Right Defense: Kibuuka Nalwamba. Age 27
Left Defense: Nkunda Sevvumwerango. Age 31
Right Wing: Kutaaka Muyanja. Age 24
Left Wing: Émile Leroux. Age 24
Center: Ruhakana Katábula. Age 31. Captain.
Line 2
Right Defense: Najja Mberenge. Age 21
Left Defense: Onyait Kiggye. Age 24
Right Wing: Mugaba Mulima. Age 23
Left Wing: Senyange Muwangwe. Age 30
Center: Kamoga Lubabule. Age 34

Little Istria Tigersharks
Location: Little Istria, TV City, Qasden

And, here we have another longstanding franchise from the Glorious Southwest- the Little istria Tigersharks. Little Istria is an ethnic Banijan neighborhood in TV city, a major city in Qasden. Qasden is Banija's neighbor, and Banija played their Cup of Harmony games in the country in the tournament's most recent edition. The LIttle Istria neighborhood looks like a Banijan outpost- lots of Banijan food, there's even a Puritan LDS temple in the center of the neighborhood.

Little Istria is located in Northwestern TV City. They, like the St.Jakob Crusaders, exist in a large local hockey ecosystem. They are the third hockey team in a city that has the TV City Monarchs and the TVC Clouded Leopards, both playing under the Qasden umbrella in their major domestic ice hockey league.

Of course, in a city with two other fully professional hockey teams, and this being an ethnic neighborhood squad, this will be even tougher than usual to get traction. But that helps in a way- this team will really have to double down on its local Banijan roots to have any sort of success.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 0
HCL Appearances: 0
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Abdoulie Kijeera. 57 years old.
Goaltender: Kaikara Waddiga. Age 37
Line 1
Right Defense: Kadokechi Sunga. Age 37
Left Defense: Banja Tate. Age 21.
Right Wing: Kusemererwa Makino. Age 33
Left Wing: Najja Kattaggye. Age 29
Center: Luzige Muwemba. Age 31
Line 2
Right Defense: Sabiti Ddimirire. Age 28
Left Defense: Akello Ssensawo. Age 30
Right Wing: Kutaaka Nsobya. Age 32
Left Wing: Kintu Lutwama. Age 21
Center: Katuramu Buyondo. Age 26

Gold Coast Thunder
Location: Gold Coast, Northwest Kalactin

In this team, we have the return of the GBHL to a city that was once abandoned- The Gold Coast, in Northwest Kalactin. The former capitol city of Northwest Kalactin, it is no longer the capitol since Northwest Kalactin no longer has a government. There is a decent sized Banijan community in the Gold Coast, number around 35,000 Banijans. The GBHL used to be here, hosting the Gold Coast Whalers.

But after ownership situation forced the franchise to fold, a concerted effort was started to bring another team back to the Gold Coast. This time, with the help of former Gold Coast City FC Owner and WCC President Adama Sowe, who is a Banijn, the effort to bring another hockey team to the Gold Coast was successful. The team ownership is split- 50% belongs to the Gold Coast LDS Temple, and 50% belongs to Adama Sowe. With a more stable ownership situation, many are confident that this team will be able to be a long term cornerstone of this league for years to come.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 0
HCL Appearances: 0
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Serrekunda Secka. 44 years old.
Goaltender: Mita Kuba. Age 26
Line 1
Right Defense: Kayluntang Cuih. Age 36. Captain.
Left Defense: Bunjaa Susaleed. Age 19
Right Wing: Ochen Kalamazi. Age 22
Left Wing: Alex Aan. Age 29
Center: Cheboh Baru. Age 26
Line 2
Right Defense: Daba Banseh. Age 35
Left Defense: Kamuneh Maseya. Age 30
Right Wing: Kanifing Faho. Age 34
Left Wing: Jebel Dijih. Age 19
Center: Koparoo Suso. Age 22

Kapetägien Kestrels
Location: Kapetägien, Geisenfred

The Kestrels- the closest team to Banija's borders. A city located in our neighbor to the East, Geisenfred, it is a region that is home to many Banijans, both permanent migrants and many refugees from the Banijan-Equestrian War. As Banija's only land neighbor, they are expected to be a very well supported side within the few hockey fans that actually reside within Banija's borders themselves. That is because, of course, the geographical proximity between Banija and Geisenfred.

The Kestrels are owned by Ingrid Baloma, the league's only female owner. She is an investor within the city, and she is half-Banijan, born in Geisenfred to a Geis mother and a Banijan father. Baloma is expected to aggressively recruit fans throughout the region and the country in Geisenfred, as she's stated that she 'fully expects' her team to compete for titles almost straight from the get go.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 0
HCL Appearances: 0
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Alasana Sisawo. 51 years old.
Goaltender: Kasi Kunoe. Age 27
Line 1
Right Defense: Dodou Mbode. Age 34
Left Defense: Ngor Safujakaya. Age 26
Right Wing: Tadi Kasuza. Age 32. Captain.
Left Wing: Moli Kumate. Age 33
Center: Saiarr Janha. Age 18
Line 2
Right Defense: Willie Jallow. Age 26
Left Defense: Sutay Banka. Age 33
Right Wing: Lallo Baluteho. Age 23
Left Wing: Sittafa Dira. Age 20
Center: Bakau Melo. Age 18

Shakmir Whalers
Location: Shakmir, Timuria
Stadium: Şamkir Kış Sporları Merkezi, Capacity of 6,000

This team is located in Timuria, which Banija shares our northern border with. Adding some geographical compactness to the league, they of course were added to the Southwestern Division, which precipitated the move of the New Istria Eagles to the North Division. They have a unique ownership structure as well. The team is structured as a worker co-operative. Co-operatives, while nearly non-existent in Banija, are not something that could be called rare in Timuria. How did this team form, then? It was players who played in a local adult recreational hockey league who decided to all go in together, financially, to set this up.

While you could not call the club fan owned, this co-operative has spent time integrating itself with the community. "This team is going to represent Shamkir well, and I believe that we can connect to both Banijan and non-Banijan locals quite well here" said the Club Chairman. And they have spent this offseason mounting an aggressive campaign, trying to drum up support for the squad within the city. Attending events at the local temple, of course, is the best way to connect to the local Banijan community, and they have done that quite well. But they have had an aggressive campaign targeting youth, as well. They have visited local schools, ran hockey and ice skating camps at their arenas, and visited local community events and fairs.

Will they catch on? We'll have to wait and see. They are confident that they will, and they believe that the team can become a 'fixture of the league' and a 'staple of the community' fairly quickly.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 1 (Season 7)
HCL Appearances: 0
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Yorro Dumbuya. 43 years old.
Goaltender: Jawaroo Darte. Age 18
Line 1
Right Defense: Caku Fanla. Age 28
Left Defense: Isaka Sisofiaeo. Age 30
Right Wing: Joylord Nyauchi. Age 24.
Left Wing: Botongo Jawara. Age 34. Captain.
Center: Farimang Aya. Age 24
Line 2
Right Defense: Kandita Tollo. Age 37
Left Defense: Hadim Dejta. Age 36
Right Wing: Falla Jabang. Age 37
Left Wing: Lang Suware. Age 28
Center: Kiang Kumamu. Age 36

Istria Golden Bears
Location: Istria, Moravica
Stadium: Blue Thunder Ice Hockey Arena, capacity of 5,500.

Of course, the first professional ice hockey team to play permanently on home soil. There has been a push for a while, and finally, the stars have aligned. Of course, this team has certainly faced challenges- the lack of winter in the city, and the country, makes it hard to generate home-grown players. OF course, this is the modern era, it doesn't mean there's no ice. But it is harder to recruit players, it is harder to recruit fans, even in Banija's biggest media market. The Golden Bears, although obviously drawing on a much larger population, certainly started at a marked disadvantage.

As they have started to have limited success on the ice, and particularly with the increased success of the national team, the popularity of this team has exploded- they hope to take advantage with the team's first ever playoff berth.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 0
HCL Appearances: 0
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Lafi Maseya. 56 years old.
Goaltender: Fara Sanjeh. Age 36
Line 1
Right Defense: Konkoo Kunde. Age 26
Left Defense: Kebba Marong. Age 29. Captain
Right Wing: Mamur Fanja. Age 32
Left Wing: Kausu Banje. Age 22
Center: Gunjur Banura. Age 18
Line 2
Right Defense: Nyambi Ku. Age 30
Left Defense: Sainey Subalo. Age 24
Right Wing: Ismaela Jawo. Age 34
Left Wing: Halifa Gaye. Age 26
Center: Liyo Jawo Age. 37

Milran Serin Mariners
Location: Milran Serin, Valanora

The first of our four expansion teams we're introducing in the GBHL this season! Going to the northern Valanora port city of Milran Serin- not a place with the glitz and the glamour of a world-famous town like Raynor City, but it represents continued Banijan sporting interest in Valanora- building on the backs of the GFLB team down in Mar Sara.

This is a working-class town, with a large Audioslav diaspora, and a sizeable Banijan population as well. The Banijan population here, however, is quite different from Banijan migrant populations elsewhere. Banijans living in Valanora are much more likely to be secular- and that is true in this town, where the LDS temple, while existing, is just sparsely intended on Sundays. Despite that, there is still a lot of national pride for this country in what is clearly a very diverse city.

The team itself is owned by World Cup 93 champion, and former Testiculo at right back, as well as Raynor City United star, Tairu Conateh- who spent a few years of his childhood living in the city.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: Expansion
HCL Appearances: Expansion
Conference Titles: Expansion
League Titles: Expansion

Head Coach: Ekka Damba. 48 years old.
Goaltender: Bamba Ny. Age 20
Line 1
Right Defense: Steve Kuje. Age 19
Left Defense: Demboo Susawa. Age 29. Captain.
Right Wing: Bora Kolo. Age 22
Left Wing: Benjamin Kusamy. Age 30
Center: Sosseh Kolo. Age 27
Line 2
Right Defense: Desmon Danso. Age 24
Left Defense: Arjana Komi. Age 19
Right Wing: Fabala Danso. Age 27
Left Wing: Lolong Kuja. Age 28
Center: Karanta Danee. Age 31

Busukuma Bulldogs
Location: Busukuma, National Capitol Region, Banija
Stadium: The Doghouse, capacity of 5,500

Finally! Banijan hockey fans celebrate as the league, and the NT, has finally brought us what many of us have been waiting for- growth at home! Yes, it is, indeed, possible, as there are a wild three expansion teams, right here at home, in Banija! The first, of course, is in our nation's capitol, and suddenly this country's 2nd largest city- Busukuma. With the city becoming more metropolitan, and with the most recent WCoH run helping really grow the sport, it's nice to have a new place to play home games, and a new city that's taken on the sport.

There is a lot of excitement with hockey in Busukuma. "It's going to be a hell of a time- Bulldogs forever!" Said a kid at the team launch, with all the gusto of a lifelong fan even though, at that point, the team had existed for all of 5 minutes. We'll see what kind of interest it can generate in one of the country's most crowded sports scenes.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: Expansion
HCL Appearances: Expansion
Conference Titles: Expansion
League Titles: Expansion

Head Coach: George Columbus. Age 47.
Goaltender: Sanjani Jarju Age 33
Line 1
Right Defense: Madikeh Mecuyasa. Age 23
Left Defense: Bunja Ny. Age 35
Right Wing: Makang Kutaye. Age 25
Left Wing: Kemoring Falti. Age 30. Captain.
Center: Baboucar Faitayoh. Age 26
Line 2
Right Defense: Kanjura Koju. Age 30
Left Defense: Salmina Coybari. Age 28
Right Wing: Alex Jabang. Age 32
Left Wing: Wandi Jasaibeh. Age 36
Center: Farafenni Badjie. Age 27

North Conference

Quebec Grizzlies
Location: Quebec City, Quebec & Shingoyreo

Quebec City- the capitol of the Royal Kingdom of Quebec. Banija's relations with the Royal Kingdom of Quebec go back further than their relations with any other nation, and the history of Banija is intertwined with the history of Quebec(though the reverse certainly isn't true). The Shingoyreoite Empire, of course, was Banija's colonizing power, and Banija was under the rule of Quebecois Kings for over 100 years, until independence was fully achieved in 1910.

This is a metropolitan area with a large number of Banijans, numbering around half a million in the area, and probably somewhere around 2 million in the country at-large. It was actually a very large surprise that they did not get chosen for an expansion franchise in season 1- however, them being chosen for Season 2 makes sense. Quebec City, of course, is also the seat of the Quebecois Commonwealth of Nations, a likeminded cultural association for nations that were once under the rule of those who throne was in Quebec City.

The international headquarters for the International Hockey Federation, of course, are located in this nation. The IHF's VP is the league's "founding father" and the man considered the pioneer for Banijan ice hockey, Muhoozi Kutoumbo, and he is an frequent attendee at their games. Many Banijan hockey players already hail from this country, as this region and Montreal, before the start of the GBHL, were the two metropolitan areas where most Banijan hockey players came from. This team is, of course, expected to be extremely competitive starting out, and expects to garner a lot of fan support fairly early on from the community.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 5 (Season 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )
HCL Appearances: 5 (Season 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 )
Conference Titles: 4 (Season 4, 5, 6, 7)
League Titles: 2 (Seasons 5, 8 )

Head Coach: Jelany Chinelo. 52 years old. Former Player.
Goaltender: Aziz Sarr. Age 36
Line 1
Right Defense: Idirissa Sawolu. Age 22
Left Defense: Joseph Bah. Age 23
Right Wing: Jikindi Jula. Age 23
Left Wing: Baldeh Duroyl. Age 33
Center: Mukasa Ssebanja. Age 31. Captain.
Line 2
Right Defense: Daraman Guissé. Age 29
Left Defense: Abdoulie Sebuya. Age 36
Right Wing: Musa Balde. Age 20
Left Wing: Mansor Jais. Age 27
Center: Sukuta Komi. Age 31

Maal Pioneers
Location: Maal, Mriin

A unique migrant community, they have a different history in Mriin than most of Banija's other migrant communities.

The original Banijans to visit Mriin were not economic refugees, nor even were they recent refugees from the war- no, the Banijans in Maal went to Mriin as missionaries. Plenty of Puritan Mormon missionaries went to Mriin to try and spread the faith, and they ended up living in the country. While there are Banijans throughout the country, the epicenter is in Maal, which is one of the nation's largest cities. There are an estimated 200,000 ethnic Banijans who are living in Maal, and almost all of them Mormon.

It is the Banijans who brought Christian influence into the country- though they have had much more of a cultural effect. Most Mormons in the country are Banijan, so whether or not the historic mission efforts were a success is up for debate- however, the cultural effects cannot be ignored. Christmas and Easter traditions in the country, for example, heavily borrow on the Puritan Mormon traditions of the holidays. The team itself is unique in its nature, owned by fans- with 5,000 people buying a stake in the team, for as little as $1,000 NSDs per share. After another share offering, there are 9,000 listed owners of the Pioneers.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 2 (Seasons 4, 5)
HCL Appearances: 0
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Monnieemang Ontlametse. 71 years old.
Goaltender: Makang Siwangeh. Age 27
Line 1
Right Defense: Bubcarr Damfa. Age 35
Left Defense: Muna Baiera. Age 37
Right Wing: Mamo Daruya. Age 19
Left Wing: Numu Beword. Age 23
Center: Keemoo Badjie. Age 23
Line 2
Right Defense: Kandita Tuidehybido. Age 26
Left Defense: Pa Bybuya. Age 34
Right Wing: Malick Kang. Age 18
Left Wing: Kitim Sisawo. Age 20
Center: Banjul Bafawali. Age 23

Schemerdrecht Caribou
Schemerdrecht, Ko-oren

The Caribou are now firmly planted as a core franchise within the GFLB. They are a team started with heavy local buy-in. Schemerdrecht city officials approached the GBHL when the GBHL announced that they were looking for a 14th franchise(although now there at 16), and it is a partnership that clicked almost immediately. A venue was lined up very quickly, a team name was chosen, and they are able to generate a fanbase well beyond the Banijan community.

This is probably the team that is the least reliant on the diaspora- while there is a decent sized diaspora community in the city's metropolitan area, without a local hockey team in the city, many Ko-orenites support it- although there is controversy about the fact that the GBHL beat Ko-oren's own domestic hockey league to the city. Still, support from key stakeholders will make it difficult for the Caribou to be anything other than a success.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 3 (Seasons 5, 6, 8 )
HCL Appearances: 2 (Seasons 5, 8 )
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Kobamelo Baikathudi. 55 years old.
Goaltender: Gomolemo Pusoetsile. Age 34,
Line 1
Right Defense: Esau Kayange. Age 25.
Left Defense: Barrow Menda. Age 28
Right Wing: Alkalo Yah. Age 37
Left Wing: Muhammad Ngoche. Age 30. Captain.
Center: Haruna Barubiya. Age 31
Line 2
Right Defense: Karanta Bamare. Age 30
Left Defense: Nyambi Dare. Age 32
Right Wing: Yorro Dudujala. Age 37
Left Wing: Malick Sibidwa. Age 37
Center: Amata Kang. Age 22 (Banijan/Quebecois dual-national)

Jaromirgrad Huskies
Location: Jaromirgrad, Savojarna

Yet another Rushmori squad, it is a team that is a distance away but that simply made sense when it came down to it. Let's take a look at the Banijan diaspora community in the city. Of course, it is very different- the city is very ethnically Russian and Orthodox, while of course, Banijans are black skinned and generally Mormon. But of course, those Christian values, even when you talk about two very different parts of Christianity and Mormonism, stick. Popularity in the city is helped by the fact that there's no Savojarna league team here, leading locals to support the side as well.

The Banijan diaspora community Jaromirgrad is similar to Maal's- it is mainly engineers, with large numbers of grads from Banija's biggest universities, like Loyola-Istria and Northern Moravica, taking residence in the city. It is not that large of a city, but when you consider the passion that the country gives to hockey, it automatically makes it a strong market. They have an argument for being the most popular team in the league, due to strong local Savojarnan support for this team, and have parlayed that into consistent success in this league.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 3 (Season 6, 7, 8 )
HCL Appearances: 3 (Season 6, 7, 8 )
Conference Titles: 1 (Season 8 )
League Titles: 1 (Season 6)

Head Coach: Akia Walugondo. 51 years old.
Goaltender: Trophimus Raila. Age 35
Line 1
Right Defense: Mukasa Nkambo. Age 24
Left Defense: Mbabazi Ssebukyu. Age 31
Right Wing: Akiiki Kaboggoza. Age 25
Left Wing: Ojore Kikanja. Age 26
Center: Okeli Uwaezuoke. Age 28. Captain.
Line 2
Right Defense: Mugaba Masiko. Age 22
Left Defense: Byaitaka Kyegera. Age 36
Right Wing: Kamya Ssendigya. Age 25
Left Wing: Karilisa Ssembiro. Age 25
Center: Ogwambi Miiyimbo. Age 34

Bouveil Barracudas
Location: Bouveil, Myana Island, Chromatika
Stadium: Bouveil Coliseum, capacity of 7,000.

One of the newest franchises in this league! After a long process, Bouveil, a Banijan fishing community located right outside of the much larger city of Limonte, was chosen. After an intensive process by the GBHL to ensure they wouldn't have to retract to 14 for a season, the choice of Bouveil became an easy one. It is a majority-Banijan community, with 30,000 Banijans in the mid-sized town. It is situated outside of the much more major city of Limonte, that is also known for a sizeable Banijan presence. Banijan Katikkiro(Prime Minister) Xolile Lubabalo was said to be an important advocate for the GBHL to look to Chromatika, according to the leaks and rumors. There is expected to be a strong base of both Banijan and national support for the squad.

It is the smallest town in the league- but they make up for it by being the only big league sports game in town. This team has multiple founding sources, but much of the money comes from the local Mormon temple, as well as Alanso Lubabalo, who is the brother-in-law to the aforementioned Xolile Lubabalo. They built their stadium to serve as a multi-purpose arena, essentially to serve as a community sports center during the offseason.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 0
HCL Appearances: 0
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Oidu Lutte. 65 years old.
Goaltender: Tayebwa Mulyowansozi. Age 25
Line 1
Right Defense: Allopu Wentibwa. Age 26
Left Defense: Wasswa Kameketo. Age 22
Right Wing: Kaikara Wanana. Age 33. Captain.
Left Wing: Bitalo Wassaanyi. Age 27
Center: Owole Masenseke. Age 24
Line 2
Right Defense: Ouma Kiggwa. Age 30
Left Defense: Byanruhanga Ssekaayi. Age 20
Right Wing: Galabba Kibulennenza. Age 18
Left Wing: Kabonesa Masengère. Age 26
Center: Tibyangye Bulega. Age 26

New Istria Eagles
Location: New Istria, Darmen

A unique venture, this was the first non-Atlantian Oceania team in the league, located in Rushmore. The largest Banijan migrant community in the country is in New Istria, a city created by the Darmen government for refugees to live in. Despite its distance from Banija, nearly 40,000 refugees from Banija settled in Darmen as a result of the war. While over a million people settled abroad, at least temporarily, during the drought and ensuing Banijan-Equestrian War, this was the largest refugee population for a nation that was outside of Atlantian Oceania.

The two nations played in a mid World Cup Qualification friendly, in Montreal, as the Banijans continued to prepare for the World Cup Finals on home soil. The two nations played in the World Cup Qualification friendly, in Montreal, but more importantly, they played in the opening match of World Cup 81- right here, on home soil, at the brand spanking new Stadium of the Restoration. However, with the large refugee population, there was a push to create a hockey team in New Istria. Of course, considering the city was almost entirely refugees, the financial aspect would prove tough.

A makeshift temple was set up, the New Istria Puritan Temple, the church of the majority of Banijans, and they assumed ownership of the team, on a non-profit basis, of course. The national government of Darmen have built a 7,000 seat multipurpose arena, that houses the professional ice hockey and basketball arena, as well as a public gym on sight, that has two ice rinks on the bottom floor, as well as basketball courts and soccer fields above it. This, of course, will help these people remain connected with their homeland as they continue to settle in Darmen.

The Eagles, one of the league's cash poor teams, look to serve as a unifying force for the many Banijans in the city, who are almost all foreigners in a strange, new land. We'll see if they can be successful, and leverage their support this season to fill out their stadium for their games.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 0
HCL Appearances: 0
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Alanyo Kayingá. 62 years old.
Goaltender: Bategeka Mugaati. Age 35
Line 1
Right Defense: Muwemba Balamaze. Age 26
Left Defense: Byarugaba Kabiswa, Age 34. Captain.
Right Wing: Kiho Kyesiga. Age 27
Left Wing: Oneka Lumala, Age 24.
Center: Kiho Yiga, Age 21
Line 2
Right Defense: Sanyu Mukiise. Age 19
Left Defense: Isingoma Lugonda. Age 30
Right Wing: Senyange Kamaanya. Age 22
Left Wing: Gwandoya Bukuuku. Age 33
Center: Okware Kabuubi. Age 28

Goldstaff Cocodragons
Location: Goldstaff, Cosumar

The Goldstaff Cocodragons are a team of the Banijan diaspora community in Cosumar. They will be playing in Goldstaff, a city in Southwest Cosumar. It is a mid-sized city. Have you not heard of the city? Then you've heard of Crawford, a large port city, about an hour away from Goldstaff. The Bengals, of course, will be playing in a local arena.

The climate of Goldstaff is very similar to the climate of the Banijan mainland. It is semitropical, thanks to the nearby presence of the Everlong RainForest. The Rain Forest is a protected forest in Cosumar. One of the unique aspects of this inland city, is that Goldstaff is home to an animal unique to Cosumar- the feral cocodragon.

The cocodragon is a species of dragon that is unique to Cosumar. Unlike most dragons, it does not have the fire-breathing ability that is unique to the species- so though they can fly, they tend to act like most of the rest of the reptiles. There is a large species of Feral cocodragons in the Goldstaff area, so much so that the team will be named after them, as a nod to the host city.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 2 (Seasons 2, 3)
HCL Appearances: 2 (Seasons 2, 3)
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Baayo Allea. 51 years old.
Goaltender: Samba Darte. Age 28
Line 1
Right Defense: Fande Fayth. Age 18
Left Defense: Fabala Fyl. Age 35. Captain.
Right Wing: Tubab Banura. Age 28
Left Wing: Niumi Subalo. Age 24.
Center: Stephen Koby. Age 19. (Banija/Ranoria dual-national)
Line 2
Right Defense: Stephen Kuri. Age 36
Left Defense: Kunta Jasour. Age 19
Right Wing: Turo Fafi. Age 25
Left Wing: Wasa Tuidehybido. Age 32
Center: Ibou Binie. Age 19

Youngstown Yellowhammers
Location: Youngstown, West Bay, Damukuni
Stadium: Loyola-Youngstown Ice Arena, capacity of 5,100

And now, for the other newest team on the block! There is a major Banijan migrant presence in West Bay, one of Damukuni's largest cities, and mostly located in the sector of West Bay called Youngstown. It is major enough to serve as the focal point for the Mormon church at-large in Esportiva(which, to be fair, isn't saying much). The sizeable community has been demanding a team for a while, but the local bishops encouraged an outside investor, rather than funding the team themselves.

Getting some local sponsorships, they aggressively appealed to Banijans and non-Banijans alike in the City, but it would be a Loyola alumnus who would create the team. Loyola University recently opened their first-ever foreign campus, here in Youngstown. And former Banijan national team Quarterback, and former NSCF player of the year, Isaka Jawara, decided to be the initial investor to get the Yellowhammers off the ground. The first season is always rough, but we'll see if he has the long-term foundations in place.

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: 2 (Seasons 7, 8 )
HCL Appearances: 1 (Season 7)
Conference Titles: 0
League Titles: 0

Head Coach: Bontsi Tsholofelo. 49 years old.
Goaltender: Oliver Tuidehybido. Age 22
Line 1
Right Defense: Dankoo Tubabu. Age 20
Left Defense: Basirou Jarl. Age 18
Right Wing: Mufri Dahaba. Age 19
Left Wing: Madikeh Yah. Age 29
Center: Kuto Fimbah. Age 36. Captain.
Line 2
Right Defense: Yeyeh Fara. Age 27
Left Defense: Booti Fanja. Age 29
Right Wing: Modou Sebuya. Age 21
Left Wing: Bah Sima. Age 18
Center: Mamudu Jaboutatayo. Age 32

Sikoboi Athletic Club
Location: Sikoboi, Aksum
Stadium: The North Star Arena, capacity of 7,700

Now, you most certainly have NOT heard of Sikoboi. Sikoboi Athletic Club- who the hell are they? Sikoboi is a remote place- the northwestern most point in Banija, right on the TImurain border, just a few miles of Timuria separating Sikoboi and the Skynation of Demot. And, as a town of 197,000 people, it is actually the largest city in Banija without any professional sports teams. That's right- no pro soccer, no pro basketball, certainly no pro gridiron, and it doesn't even have big-time college sports, with the local university being in D2.

Or should we say- was.

Ironically, this town nobody's heard of actually has a hockey history. Generally, ignored, yes. But North Star Arena was actually built on the site of the first indoor ice rink in all of Banija. Not many people in this country go ice skating, of course- but it was built in order to try and attract foreign tourists. It largely failed (imagine going on a vacation in freaking Sikoboi lmao) but that is history.

Because of that, people have played hockey here as long as they've played anywhere in this nation. Why not??

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: Expansion
HCL Appearances: Expansion
Conference Titles: Expansion
League Titles: Expansion

Head Coach: Theodore Sa. Age 67.
Goaltender: Alieu Sabaye. Age 20
Line 1
Right Defense: Mawdo Sanya. Age 36
Left Defense: Tuutoo Ga. Age 23
Right Wing: Balla Mendy. Age 34. Captain.
Left Wing: Mamudu Deh. Age 23
Center: Bango Susaleed. Age 18
Line 2
Right Defense: Ngoja Baso. Age 32
Left Defense: Samaba Hairte. Age 18
Right Wing: Karankallo Kumamu. Age 24
Left Wing: Kasama Fal. Age 18
Center: Sutunkung Colley. Age 36

Dimbogourou Horned Vipers
Location: Dimbogourou, Ankole
Stadium: The Snake's Pit, Capacity of 12,500

First, make sure you say it right- "Dim-bo-go-roo"

Second- Raise your hand if you've heard of Dimbogourou.

*Crickets*

If you have, congratulations! Chances are, you follow the regional league system here in Banija, in soccer. And if so- you're a true sicko. When the GBHL was trying to expand into Banija, obviously it had to have the must-hit cities- Istria first, and then Busukuma. It was going to just go for the next largest cities on the list- Herzegovina City and Jinja City. But when a stadium deal fell through in Herzegovina City, the thinking changed. Why just hit the biggest cities? Why not go to a lot smaller places- maybe with a small-time soccer team, no gridiron to think of, and put your team there?

Small fish in a big pond- or, potentially, big fish in a small pond. And Dimbogourou, well- not exaclty that large of a city. It's not tiny- a hair oer 478,000 people live within the city limits. But that's not anywhere near big enough to have anything like a GFLB team, and the pro hoops team in the city just went bankrupt(a common thing in this country, with the shitshow of a domestic basketball scene setup that we have here). So they said- why not Dimbogourou? 24th largest city in Banija, and barely any suburbs to speak of.

But the residents are excited. "Why not bring in a hockey team- this will be our pride and joy on the world stage!" Said the city's Mayor. There were quite a few people at the rally, and ironically, they've alrady sold out of season tickets. Is a team from this town, of all towns, about to suddenly be the biggest thing to hit international hockey?

Trophy Cabinet
Playoff Appearances: Expansion
HCL Appearances: Expansion
Conference Titles: Expansion
League Titles: Expansion

Head Coach: Gabi Fayth. Age 59.
Goaltender: Faja Fyo. Age 25
Line 1
Right Defense: Bulley Coehowabasbo. Age 33. Captain.
Left Defense: Jikita Coybari. Age 22
Right Wing: Fande Kasama. Age 21
Left Wing: Kemoring Manneh. Age 27
Center: Janko Sata. Age 30
Line 2
Right Defense: Sinajo Tate. Age 36
Left Defense: Koparoo Jabayo. Age 23
Right Wing: Kanifing Kadu. Age 20
Left Wing: Tubab Banje. Age 30
Center: Dembo Darboe. Age 34

Projected Order of Finish
Southwest Conference

Mansfield Warriors
St. Jakob Crusaders
Istria Golden Bears
Little Istria Tigersharks
Gold Coast Thunder
Shakmir Whalers
Busukuma Bulldogs
Milran Serin Mariners
Stalliongrad Mountaineers
Kapetägien Kestrels

North Conference

Schemerdrecht Caribou
Jaromirgrad Huskies
Quebec Grizzlies
Bouveil Barracudas
Youngstown Yellowhammers
New Istria Eagles
Dimbogourou Horned Vipers
Sikoboi Athletic Club
Maal Pioneers
Goldstaff Cocodragons

by **Banija** » Sun Jun 04, 2023 2:37 pm

Greater Banijan Hockey League Season 9 - Regular Season

72 games. 8 games against each team in your conference- if that's not enough time to separate you from your conference rivals, I don't know what to tell you. Let's dive in!

   Southwest                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mansfield Warriors             72   53  10   9   128   42  +86   116 - Southwest Conference champion, HCL berth clinched
 2 St. Jakob Crusaders            72   42  13  17   127   60  +67    97 - Automatic Playoff Bid
 3 Little Istria Tigerhawks       72   36  15  21    93   65  +28    87 - Playoff Berth clinched
 4 Gold Coast Thunder             72   29  17  26    62   81  −19    75 - Playoff Berth clinched
 5 Milran Serin Mariners          72   26  22  24    71   69   +2    74
 6 Shakmir Whalers                72   23  25  24    62   61   +1    71
 7 Istria Golden Bears            72   27  14  31    71   76   −5    68
 8 Busukuma Bulldogs              72   16  19  37    48   78  −30    51
 9 Stalliongrad Mountaineers      72   12  20  40    47  107  −60    44
10 Kapetägien Kestrels            72   10  17  45    40  110  −70    37

Let's start with the Southwest Conference, eh? The Warriors have clinched their 6th straight playoff appearance, and fourth consecutive appearance in the Hockey Champions League, by running away with the Southwest Conference. 116 points over 72 games, 19 points better than the next best team in the Southwest Conference. The 76 year old Head Coach, Maatla Setso, has the team firing on all cylinders. Only conceding 42 times is actually an insane number in a league such as this one- his young defenders are starlets, with Jokadu Kitaya already on the national team, and Sera Mukuuma almost certainly going to make the squad at WCoH 49. It makes them huge favorites, with home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, to win the GBHL Championship Series.

Who's behind them, you may ask? Another perenially successful team, but one that somehow has not found their hands on the game's ultimate trophy in Banija- the St. Jakob Crusaders. 127 goals scored is good for third in the competition, as they were excellent at putting the puck into the back of the net. Led by their 35 year old center, Onyango Jow, who is captain for both club & country, the Crusaders once again found their way into the playoffs. While they were off pace from Mansfield, they were well ahead of the rest of the comptition, being the #2 overall seed in the entire competition.

Behind them, the Little Istria Tigerhawks comfortably clinched one of the four at-large playoff spots. But the race for fourth in this conference, was extremely tight. It came down to the final day- the expansion team from Valanora, the Milran Serin Mariners, were on the brink of reaching the postseason in their debut season. But they could not- losing to a dominant Mansfield Warriors team on the final day, and allowing the Gold Coast Thunder, out of Northwest Kalactin, to steal the final postseason spot.

Shakmir and Istria were also in the running, and ran out of steam towards the end. But it would be Busukuma, Kapetägien, and Stalliongrad who would bring up the rear in this conference.

   North                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Quebec Grizzlies               72   41  14  17   113   59  +54    96 - North Conference Champions, HCL berth clinched
 2 Jaromirgrad Huskies            72   41  11  20   131   72  +59    93 - Automatic Playoff Berth
 3 Schemerdrecht Caribou          72   39  12  21   121   72  +49    90 - Playoff Berth clinched
 4 Bouveil Barracudas             72   36  14  22   108   80  +28    86 - Playoff Berth clinched
 5 Youngstown Yellowhammers       72   24  22  26    75   84   −9    70
 6 New Istria Eagles              72   25  15  32    88   89   −1    65
 7 Sikoboi Athletic Club          72   24  16  32    91  116  −25    64
 8 Dimbogourou Horned Vipers      72   23  16  33    69   97  −28    62
 9 Goldstaff Cocodragons          72   16  15  41    71  132  −61    47
10 Maal Pioneers                  72   16  15  41    55  121  −66    47

Who else? One of the most historic teams in this league, the Quebec Grizzlies, coming on top of the North Conference- and going straight back to the Hockey Champions League. A berth that is both well-earned and well-deserved, wiht this team taking it all the way down. Now, if the Southwest Conference was known for the lack of parity, there was a ton of parity here- at least at the top. 20 points separted first from second in the other conference. And even beyond that. 10 points separated second from third, and 12 points seperated third from fourth. But in this conference? 10 point seperated first from fourth.

It was, for all intents and purposes, a three horse race. The Bouveil Barracudas quite comfortably clinched a playoff spot for themselves as well, leaving no doubt they were a top 8 team in this league- but they were never really in the running for a conference title. Still, for such a young team, the Myana Island team making its first ever playoff appearnace in the GBHL is absolutely a big deal. A great season for them.

What did this season come down to? Simply put, it came down to the Grizzlies getting hot at the right time. Winning 6 in a row, and ultimately 8 of their last 9, allowed them to clinch the conference title in stunning fashion on the last day of the season- simply put, absolutely nobody was in any sort of position to catch them. The Huskies and Caribou also finished the season strong, however, getting themselves playoff berths as well. Finishing above the 90 point mark is always an accomplishment, and they did that.

To the playoffs, baby!

Playoff Standings               Pld     W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Mansfield Warriors             72   53  10   9   128   42  +86   116 - Southwest Conference champion
 2 Quebec Grizzlies               72   41  14  17   113   59  +54    96 - North Conference Champions
 3 St. Jakob Crusaders            72   42  13  17   127   60  +67    97
 4 Jaromirgrad Huskies            72   41  11  20   131   72  +59    93
 5 Schemerdrecht Caribou          72   39  12  21   121   72  +49    90
 6 Little Istria Tigerhawks       72   36  15  21    93   65  +28    87
 7 Bouveil Barracudas             72   36  14  22   108   80  +28    86
 8 Gold Coast Thunder             72   29  17  26    62   81  −19    75

GBHL First Round Playoff Matchups

First Round Playoff Series are Best of 5

#1 Mansfield Warriors v. #8 Gold Coast Thunder
#4 Jaromirgrad Huskies v. #5 Schemerdrecht Cariobou

#2 Quebec Grizzlies v. #7 Bouveil Barracudas
#3 St. Jakob Crusaders v. #6 Little Istria Tigersharks

by **Banija** » Sun Jun 04, 2023 3:24 pm

Greater Banijan Hockey League Season 9 - Playoffs

GBHL First Round Playoff Scores
First Round Playoff Series are Best of 5

Game 1
Mansfield Warriors 5–0 Gold Coast Thunder
Jaromirgrad Huskies 3–4 Schemerdrecht Caribou
Quebec Grizzlies 2–1 Bouveil Barracudas
St. Jakob Crusaders 4–0 Little Istria Tigerhawks

Game 2
Mansfield Warriors 1–0 Gold Coast Thunder (Mansfield leads series 2-0)
Jaromirgrad Huskies 1–2 Schemerdrecht Caribou (Caribou leads series 2-0)
Quebec Grizzlies 2–4 Bouveil Barracudas (Series tied 1-1)
St. Jakob Crusaders 1–1 Little Istria Tigerhawks (1–0 SO) (Crusaders lead series 2-0)

Game 3
Gold Coast Thunder 0–0 Mansfield Warriors (2–3 SO) (Mansfield WINS series with a 3-0 sweep)
Schemerdrecht Caribou 1–2 Jaromirgrad Huskies (Caribou lead series 2-1)
Bouveil Barracudas 0–1 Quebec Grizzlies (Grizzlies lead series 2-1)
Little Istria Tigerhawks 2–1 St. Jakob Crusaders (Crusaders lead series 2-1)

Game 4
Schemerdrecht Caribou 2–1 Jaromirgrad Huskies (Caribou WIN series 3-1)
Bouveil Barracudas 0–1 Quebec Grizzlies (Grizzlies WIN series 3-1)
Little Istria Tigerhawks 0–0 St. Jakob Crusaders (2–0 SO) (Series tied 2-2)

Game 5
St. Jakob Crusaders 4–2 Little Istria Tigerhawks (Crusaders WIN series 3-2)

Four excellent first round playoff series! How did the best of 5s treat us?

First, we'll start with the first series- the far and away #1 seed, the Mansfield Warriors, taking on the Gold Coast Thunder, from Northwest Kalactin, in round 1. Many have said that they'd like to pick an upset here- there's nothing that's more hockey than an 8 seed making some sort of crazy, insane playoff run, am I right? But Mansfield, although not playing meaningful hockey for about 3 weeks, showed that they were not just a regular season tiger- their 116 points make them a deserved favorite to win the title. In fact, their vaunted defense was the star of the series- the Thunder did not score once across the three games. That's insane, even for playoff hockey. A massive blowout in game 1, yes, but games 2 and 3 were close- and still, no cigar. Off to the Semis!

Next, we'll take a look at what many expected to be probably the best series going into these playoffs- Huskies v. Caribou. Very evenly matched, both with passionate fanbases. But it would be the Schemerdrecht Caribou who simply ended this series before it ever really got going. They say that a playoff series doesnt' really start until somebody wins on the road- and the Caribou did that not once, but twice, to start the series. Back to back wins in Savojarna really took the wind out of the sails of the Huskies, and while they avoided getting swept, the Caribou ended things in game 4 in Ko-oren, with winger Haruna Barubiya scoring the game winner with just 37 seconds left.

Then, we had Quebec against the playoff debutants- the Bouveil Barracudas. It's hard to get good in this league from the get-go, but here are the Barracudas from Chromatika- exciting, exhilirating, and talented. After losing a tight game 1, they wanted to steal one away in game 2, and they did just that- a tight, 4-2 win in Quebec City to really get one of the league's oldest teams shaking in their boots. But the Grizzlies were calm. "We know we split at home- but we've been here before." Said their head coach. "We aren't scared, we aren't worried- we're the better team, and we're about to prove it." Prove it they did, as they went to Bouveil, and earned a pair of 1-0 road wins to reach the semifinals on their own.

Lastly, St. Jakob faced off against Little Istria, from Qasden. The Teuslander squad got ahead of things early- a massive 4-0 win in game 1, followed by a shootout win in game 2, really put them in the driver's seat, being up 2-0 in a best of 5. But the Tigersharks had a never say die attitude. A 2-1 home win in game 3 staved off the sweep, and then a shootout win in game 4 really made it look like they were about to come back. Unfortunately, they could not. St. Jakob found their sea legs back at home, and won a winner-take-all game 5, by a score of 4-2, to reach the semifinals of this great competition.

With Mansfield and Quebec winning their playoff series, that means that both the Schemerdrecht Caribou and the St. Jakob Crusaders punched their tickets into the upcoming edition of the Hockey Champions League.

GBHL Semifinal Round Playoff Matchups

Second Round Playoff Series are Best of 7

#1 Mansfield Warriors v. #5 Schemerdrecht Cariobou
#2 Quebec Grizzlies v. #3 St. Jakob Crusaders

GBHL Semifinal Round Playoff Scores
(Semifinal series are done in a 2-3-2 format in order to help limit travel costs)

Game 1
Mansfield Warriors 3–1 Schemerdrecht Caribou
Quebec Grizzlies 1–4 St. Jakob Crusaders

Game 2
Mansfield Warriors 5–1 Schemerdrecht Caribou (Mansfield lead series 2-0)
Quebec Grizzlies 1–0 St. Jakob Crusaders (Series tied 1-1)

Game 3
Schemerdrecht Caribou 3–5 Mansfield Warriors (Mansfield leads series 3-0)
St. Jakob Crusaders 2–4 Quebec Grizzlies (Quebec leads series 2-1)

Game 4
Schemerdrecht Caribou 1–0 Mansfield Warriors (Mansfield leads series 3-1)
St. Jakob Crusaders 0–2 Quebec Grizzlies (Quebec leads series 3-1)

Game 5
Schemerdrecht Caribou 0–1 Mansfield Warriors (Mansfield WINS series 4-1)
St. Jakob Crusaders 0–3 Quebec Grizzlies (Quebec WINS series 4-1)

Sometimes, you have wild entertainmment. And sometimes, you have displays of dominance. And this year, that's what the GBHL's conference champions have shown in the semifinal round- dominance.

First, we'll start with our #1 seed, Mansfield. Plenty of rest- the only team to start off the playoffs with a first round sweep. And they wanted to do something similar in round 2. The Warriors got off to a strong start, with a tight, 3-1 win over the Caribou to start the series. The scoreline was helped a little bit by an extremely late empty net goal. But they've repeatedly shown an ability to win these close games all year- why would they stop now? But they can also win in style. Three first period goals in Game 2(two of them on the power play!) led them to a domineering, blowout 5-1 win over the Caribou, to quickly take a commanding 2-0 series lead. But of course, they held serve at home- the next 3 were in Ko-oren. What were they to do?

THey would go back to Ko-oren in game 3. A team known for its dominance on the defensive end, they showed that they have an ability to win in a multitude of ways- surviving a shootout with more firepower than their opponents. "That's not how we like to play the game." Said their head coach. "But we can beat anybody this league throws at us." That 5-3 road win put them up 3-0, and that was functionally the series. The Caribou got a 1-0 win in Game 4 to avoid getting swept(and end Mansfie'ds playoff winning streak at 6), but Mansfield punched their ticket to the GBHL Championship Series in Ko-reon, with a 1-0 win in game 5 to put them within spitting distance of the title.

Now, we'll go to the other semifinal. We've talked many times about how the Crusaders are unlucky- always the bridesmaid, never the bride. And so when they walked out of Quebec City in Game 1 with a 4-1 victory, it was stunning. The Crusaders, getting a road win? Could they pull off the upset and get back to the GBHL Championship Series? Was a GBHL championship in their sights? And when Quebec could only win 1-0 in game 2, St. Jakob was ready for an electric atmosphere back home in Teusland. And they got it- a record crowd, with many saying 'this is why we play in Siovanija & Teusland'. But just like the first round, when Quebec lost a home game, they were not fazed.

They're the defending champs, baby! And while Mansfield might be 7-1 in these playoffs, their only loss being an opponent avoiding a sweep in game 4, the Grizzlies showed, in St. Jakob, why they're the defending champs. Not one, not 2, but a trio of consecutive road wins to completely shut down the fans in st. Jakob, and put themselves in position to go back to back. Back to the Championship Series!

Grizzlies v. Warriors. One is one of the most dominant teams we've ever seen in this league- the other trying to start a dynasty, going back to back. Will it be Mansfield, or Quebec, that lifts the trophy?

GBHL Championship Series Matchup
Best of 7. Championship Series is done in a traditional 2-2-1-1-1 format
#1 Mansfield Warriors v. #2 Quebec Grizzlies

by **Banija** » Sun Jun 04, 2023 4:11 pm

Greater Banijan Hockey League Season 9 - GBHL Championship Series

Game 1
Mansfield Warriors 3–2 Quebec Grizzlies

It's Game 1 of the GBHL Championship Series! The Mansfield Warriors taking on the Quebec Grizzlies- with all the pomp and circumstance of the occasion. The trio of national anthems(Banija, Baker Park, and Quebec), the visit of a royal (Omugaba Immaculate), etc... A spectacular scene here in small town Baker Park. And the Commonwealth was the site of a game that would send the home fans happy. It was 0-0 after the first period- but this game came alive in the middle period. Two Paul Misiani goals in period 2, then the Grizzlies scoring short-handed at the end of the period to make it 2-1.

Both teams scored in period 3- the Warriors with 13:00 left, and the Grizzlies with 4 minutes left, to give us our final score- a 3-2 win for the Warriors. 116 regular season points, now 8-1 in this postseason, and a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2
Mansfield Warriors 2–1 Quebec Grizzlies (Warriors lead series 2-0)

The Warriors, known for their defense, got into a tight contest in Mansfield. But that favors them. The more physical contests, more elite defense, the slower pace... That's how they like to play. And that's exactly what happened here. The Grizzlies took a 1-0 lead in the second period. But the Warriors came roaring back in the third. With Kusemererwa Kisanje scoring the first goal, and then Jimiyu Binjogoli, the 36 year old, scoring the winner with just 1:33 left, the Warriors took a 2-0 lead as the series switched to Quebec City. Holding serve at home, proving they are the best team in this league.

Game 3
Quebec Grizzlies 7–0 Mansfield Warriors (Mansfield leads series 2-1)

Off to Quebec City, and the Grizzlies roar their way to a stunning win over Mansfield! What's actually a record playoff victory in what is certainly a game to forget for Mansfield- the Grizzlies going off for seven goals, all in the first two periods(two in the first, five in the second) as they showed exaclty what they should not be counted out of this series. Just because they're down 2-0, doesn't mean anything to them- they lost either game 1 or two in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and look where the defending champs are standing. Chance to run it back?

Game 4
Quebec Grizzlies 0–2 Mansfield Warriors (Mansfield leads series 3-1)

This game 4- pivotal. When the home team has held serve for the first three games to start a series, game 4 always starts to feel pivotal. The Warriors simply held a short memory. "Look, game 3 was a disaster- we know that." Said their head coach. "But we're moving past it, and we're onto the next stage." This was a physical game- a ton of penalties both ways, and barely any goals. 0-0 after 2. But in the third period, the Warriors came alive. Just a minute into period 3, it would be Mulogo Mufuumuula who would score a brilliant slap shot, on a power play, to make it 1-0. And they held, in face of a relentless attack from the Grizz- with 20 year old NT defender Jokadu Kitaya scoring an empty netter with 28 seconds left, to put the Warriors one win away from the GBHL title.

Game 5
Mansfield Warriors 5–1 Quebec Grizzlies (Mansfield WINS the series 4-1, and are CHAMPIONS of the GBHL)

Sometimes, these game 5s are a celebration. Today, it was more than that- it was a coronation. "We wanted to prove that we were everything that we said we were. We showed how good we were during the regular season, and all postseason- we wanted to win it here, in Mansfield, for the fans." Said the team captain, Misiani. His two goals led to him getting the series MVP award, as the Warriors blasted away the Quebec Grizzlies, 5-1, to win this title. Delirium. The game was a dominant performance from start to finish.

Encapsulating the season, right? Dominant performance from start to finish. 20 points ahead of the next best team in the regular season. Finising an absolutely ridiculous 11-2 during the playoffs- including a picture-perfect 7-0 at home during the postseason. What a ride, what a season, what a title. Crown 'em baby!

by **Banija** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 9:30 am

Banija's Regional Soccer Leagues in the S-FPL Era- Year 17

The Royal Banijan Soccer Association(RBSA), in conjunction with the Busoga Islander Soccer Association(BISA). is proud to present the third tier of the soccer pyramid in both Banija and the Busoga Islands- the Regional League system. Remember, as of Year 10, The Northwestern League no longer exists, having been split into the Moravican State League, and the Busogan National League. They will join the Lower Coastal League, the Northern League, and the Southern League as the two nation's third tier now consists of 50 teams, spread across 5 leagues.

This will be the twenty-sixth season of full integration of the Regional League System into the Banijan soccer pyramid. Years 1-9 this served as the 2nd tier of the Banijan soccer pyramid, but now it is in its 17th season as the country's third tier with the formation of the Shango-Fogoa Premier League. There is no relegation as this is the final professional tier in the Banijan league system. Promotion happens on a national basis- separate promotion/relegation process for the Busogan teams, as the Banijan teams.

For the Banijan teams, the four regional champions will enter into a double round robin group stage against each other, played home and away(6 games). Winner goes up to the BSL(2nd tier), while the last placed Banijan side in the BSL is relegated to the regional leagues. The second place team will play against the second worst Banijan team in the BSL in the BSL Promotion Playoff, a one game playoff occurring at the Stadium of the Restoration.

Of course, the Corizova rule remains in place. The Corizova rule is this- any team that wins their regional league for three seasons in a row, earns automatic promotion to the BSL(without having to go through the Promotion Playoff), and the Promotion Playoff will only have 3 teams. However, that rule has never come into force.

On the Busogan side, they have their own set of rules. The champion is promoted, and if the worst finishing Busogan team in the BSL finishes 10th or worse, then that is automatic. If the worst finishing Busogan team is 9th or 8th, there is a one game playoff, hosted by the Busogan National League champion. If the worst finishing Busogan team in the BSL finishes 4th through 7th, the one game playoff is hosted by that very Busogan BSL side. If the worst finishing Busogan team is third or better(this would require for there to be at least one Busogan team in the S-FPL), then there is no pro/rel that season.

Of course, that's extremely unlikely considering how Busogan teams have generally performed since the beginning of the modern era. On the other hand, there could be multiple promotions/relegations. Any Busogan team that finishes 18th or worse(out of 22) in the BSL, must 'earn their place' in the league. So, for example, if only one team is 18th or worse- then they are automatically relegated. But what if, for example, three of the four Busogan teams in the BSL finish 18th or worse? Then the worst team is automatically relegated- but the other two would play in playoffs for their BSL slot. The second worst team would play the #2 team in the Busogan National League, while the third worst team would play the #3 team in the Busogan National League- those games, also one game playoffs, hosted by the National League sides.

You with us? Without further ado! The 50 regional league sides in Banija and the Busoga Islands!

Teams Promoted from last season out of the regional leagues
Serizar FC(Busogan National League winner)
Cerenus United(Northern League winner, BSL Promotion Playoff Winner)
Busemlu Park SC(Southern League winner, BSL Qualifier Winner)

Teams relegated from BSL into the regional leagues this season
Jaribga Soccer Club(worst-finishing Busogan team in the league; finished in 21st place out of 22 teams in the BSL0
Barmos United(Finished in last place in the BSL)
Umbazi Metropolitan SC(lost BSL Qualifier)

Note: Both Banijan teams relegated from the BSL last season are playing outside their assigned regional league. Corizova United, in Moravica, will be playing in the Southern League, while the Luguyala Patriots, playing in Aksum, will join the Lower Coastal League.

Busogan National League
Consists only of teams from the Busoga Islands
1. Nezrouch Rovers. NR. Location: Nezrouch, Busoga. Color: Blue.

2. Tripoli Foresters. TRI. Location: Tripoli, North Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Green.

3. Beirutspor. BET. Location: Beirut, North Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Red.

4. Independence FK. IND. Location: Dukuma, North Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Blue.

5. Castra Bostra FK. Location: Dukuma, North Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Black and Yellow.

6. Kocakhan AFC. Location: Kocakhan, North Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Purple.

7. Altica FC. Location: Altica, South Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Red.

8. Osmazar Wallabies. Location: Osmazar, South Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Green.

9. Jaribga Soccer Club. JSC. Location: Jaribga, North Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Blue.

10. Lakiska Kangaroos. Location: Lakiska, South Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Red.

The Moravican First Division
Region- Moravica.
1. Taramazna United. TMU. Location: Taramazna, Moravica. Color: Blue.

2. AFC Kosactus. AFCK. Location: Kosactus, Moravica. Color: Red.

3. Eastern Moravica Football Club. EMFC. Location: Iziarad, Moravica. Color: Scarlet.

4. Slobochia Bears. SBB. Location: Slobochia, Moravica. Color: Purple.

5. Koszagard City. KZC. Location: Koszagard, Moravica. Color: Orange.

6. Suwawa FC. SFC. Location: Suwawa, Moravica. Color: Green.

7. Lake Wakiso AFC. Location: Burusazi, Moravica. Located on the shores of Lake Wakiso, in the interior of the Moravica Region. Color: Blue.

8. New Olympus FC. Location: Lower East Side, Istria, Moravica. Color: Black and Gold.

9. Ruhanga SC. Location: Ruhanga, Moravica. Color: Green.

10. Gazaea Thunder. Location: Gazea, Moravica. Color: Purple.

The Lower Coastal League
Regions: Ankole, Kitara, National Capitol Region (+1 Moravica)
1. Nsade United. NDU. Location: Nsade, Ankole. Colors: Blue.

2. Baleweye Football Club. BFC. Location: Baleweye, Ankole. Colors: Turquoise.

3. Barmos United. BU. Loction: Barmos, Moravica. Color: Green.

4. Kitara Athletic Society. KAS. Location: Kiala, Kitara. Colors: Pink.

5. Kwadama Dojo. KWD. Location: Kwadama, Ankole. Colors: Red.

6. Dioro Athletic. DJA. Location: Djoro, Kitara. Colors: Green.

7. Dimbogourou Sporting Club. DSC. Location: Dimbogourou, Ankole. Colors: Purple.

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8. AFC Akwadua. AKW. Location: Akwadua, Kitara. Colors: Blue.

9. Kiruvya Bulls. AKW. Location: Kiruvya, Kitara.. Colors: Red.

10. Zakuta City. ZKC. Location: Zakuta, Ankole. Located in the Uvibe Valley suburbs of Hoima. Colors: Green.

Northern League
Regions: Hangaza & Aksum
1. Luguyala Patriots. LGY. Location: Luguyala, Aksum. Colors: Red.

2. AFC Okahavi. OKH. Location: Okahavi, Aksum. Colors: Red.

3. Garixas City. GXC. Location: Garixas, Hangaza. Colors: Blue.

4. Koksho City. KSH. Location: Koksho, Aksum. Colors: Green.

5. Thayaferu United. TYF. Location: Thayaferu, Aksum. Colors: Pink.

6. Nanami Dragons. NNI. Location: Jinja City, Hangaza. Colors: Orange.

7. Okakameb City. OKB. Location: Okakameb, Hangaza. Colors: Orange.

8. Gadive City. GDC. Location: Gadive City, Hangaza. Colors: Red.

9. Selekawe Knights. KNT. Location: Jinja City, Hangaza. Colors: Blue.

10. Pagazi Triceratopses. Location: Pagazi, Aksum. Color: Red.

Southern League
Regions: Buganda & Bunyoro (+1 Moravica)
1. Umbazi Metropolitan Sporting Club. Location: Umbazi, Buganda. Nickname: Flamingo. Deragotory Nickname: Flightless Birds

2. Abomfa United. ABM. Location: Abomfa, Buganda. Colors: Red.

3. Pumbasa Boars. PUM. Location: Pumbasa, Buganda. Colors: Orange.

4. Boufaya Ravens. BFY. Location: Boufaya, Buganda. Colors: Blue.

5. Byakado City. BYK. Location: Byakado, Bunyoro. Colors: Orange.

6. Kigagana Mountaineers. KGG. Location: Kigagana, Bunyoro. Colors: Blue.

7. Dodoma City Sporting Club. DCSC. Location: Dodoma, Bunyoro. Colors: Green.

8. Umbazi Footballers Association. UFA. Location: Umbazi, Buganda. Colors: Red.

9. Mukegara Warriors. MKG. Location: Mukegara, Bunyoro. Colors: Green.

10. Corizova United FC. CUFC. Location: Corizova, Moravica. Color: Gold.

by **Banija** » Mon Nov 11, 2024 12:31 pm

Banija's Regional Soccer Leagues in the S-FPL Era- Year 17

   Busogan National League  Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Nezrouch Rovers           36   20  13   3    55   23  +32    73 - Promoted to the Banijan Soccer League
 2 Altica FC                 36   17   5  14    36   36    0    56
 3 Tripoli Foresters         36   16   7  13    46   39   +7    55
 4 Jaribga Soccer Club       36   15   9  12    42   29  +13    54
 5 Lakiska Kangaroos         36   15   7  14    48   47   +1    52
 6 Castra Bostra FK          36   14   9  13    46   38   +8    51
 7 Beirutspor                36   13   6  17    32   42  −10    45
 8 Osmazar Wallabies         36   11  10  15    31   48  −17    43
 9 Independence FK           36   10   9  17    41   51  −10    39
10 Kocakhan AFC              36    8   7  21    39   63  −24    31

And from the Busoga Islands, it is the Nezrouch Rovers who earn promotion in convincing fashion. A 17 point cushion is an impressive cushion- and they were simply the best team in so many different ways. They led the league in goals scored by quite a bit- 55 goals for, the next most prolific team had 48. They only conceded 23 goals, which is basically an average of only allowing a singular goal in 2/3s of their matches. The nest best defense conceded 29. They had the biggest XG, and obviously they led the league in both wins(20) and draws(13)- while being the only team with a single digit number of losses(3). What do all of those stats mean? A team that won the league with a month left to play, and will find themselves in the second tier.

Moravican First Division              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 AFC Kosactus                        36   21   6   9    55   34  +21    69 - Qualify for the BSL Promotion Playoff
 2 New Olympus FC                      36   19   5  12    45   32  +13    62
 3 Slobochia Bears                     36   15   9  12    32   35   −3    54
 4 Taramazna United                    36   15   8  13    39   31   +8    53
 5 Eastern Moravica Football Club      36   14  10  12    39   35   +4    52
 6 Ruhanga SC                          36   13   9  14    41   40   +1    48
 7 Koszagard City                      36   13   9  14    36   35   +1    48
 8 Gazaea Thunder                      36   12   8  16    38   42   −4    44
 9 Suwawa FC                           36   11   6  19    27   44  −17    39
10 Lake Wakiso AFC                     36    9   6  21    23   47  −24    33

The Moravican First Division! Banija's only true state league, and it is won by AFC Kosactus. They won it rather convicingly, clinching the league title on the second to final matchday, when they beat New Olympus FC 3-0 at their home stadium. AFC Kosactus are deserved members of this- from not that large of a town, they have a prime opportunity to win the Promotion Playoff and go back up to the BSL. While their defense is average, they have a prolific attack, scoring 55 goals. Expect them to try to blitz their opponents with a fury of goals in the Promotion Playoff.

Southern League                       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Umbazi Metropolitan SC              36   25   2   9    74   27  +47    77 - Qualify for the BSL Promotion Playoff
 2 Abomfa United                       36   22   8   6    53   29  +24    74
 3 Boufaya Ravens                      36   21   7   8    50   25  +25    70
 4 Kigagana Mountaineers               36   19   7  10    45   26  +19    64
 5 Pumbasa Boars                       36   16   7  13    38   34   +4    55
 6 Byakado City                        36   13   9  14    39   42   −3    48
 7 Dodoma City Sporting Club           36   12   6  18    29   44  −15    42
 8 Mukegara Warriors                   36    8   6  22    25   48  −23    30
 9 Umbazi Footballers Association      36    6   6  24    27   72  −45    24
10 Corizova United                     36    5   8  23    26   59  −33    23

And now, for the Southern League. Umbazi Metropolitan SC have been wallowing here- they remain the only Shango-Fogoa Premier League club to get all the way down to Banija's third tier. A founding member of the S-FPL, they've fallen on dramatically hard times to even be in this position in the first place. But the Flamingo seem to potentially be starting their slow rise back to the top. There is only one team in the S-FPL who have played in the Banijan third tier, and that's Capitol City FC. Can Umbazi get all the way back? They have been the best team, statistically, across all 5 leagues in the third tier. 77 points, 25 wins, and 74 goals scored-all three most of any team across all 5 regional leagues. Of course, the playoff is champions-only. But they are far below their level and stature at this level- have to be betting favorites to get back. Right?

Lower Coastal League             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Dimbogourou Sporting Club      36   18   7  11    54   36  +18    61 - Qualify for the BSL Promotion Playoff
 2 AFC Akwadua                    36   17   7  12    46   36  +10    58
 3 Barmos United                  36   16   7  13    32   38   −6    55
 4 Djoro Athletic                 36   16   6  14    31   29   +2    54
 5 Nsade United                   36   14   9  13    40   30  +10    51
 6 Zakuta City                    36   14   7  15    29   36   −7    49
 7 Kitara Athletic Society        36   13   7  16    38   36   +2    46
 8 Kiruvya Bulls                  36   12   9  15    34   34    0    45
 9 Baleweye FC                    36   10  11  15    38   47   −9    41
10 Kwadama Dojo                   36   11   8  17    35   55  −20    41

Trying spelling Dimbogourou five times over. You'll have to, because they are the new champions of the Lower Coastal League. Do they have much of a chance of surviving the 4 team Promotion Playoff? Well... It is rather unlikely, if we are to be honest. But it is a cause for celebration. The Commonwealth Stadium is having some of the best football that they've seen in years. They won the league in emphatic fashion as well- up 3 points on the final MD, only needing a draw to win the league title, they crushed Kitara Athletic Society by a score of 7-0. Is that a result that is going to reveberate throughout the football universe? No. But it is indeed a special moment, and a special day, for fans of Dimbogourou.

Northern League              Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Pagazai Triceratopses      36   17   9  10    51   32  +19    60 - Qualify for the BSL Promotion Playoff
 2 Thayaferu United           36   16  11   9    32   26   +6    59
 3 Selekawe Knights           36   14  12  10    40   31   +9    54
 4 Garixas City               36   14   8  14    37   47  −10    50
 5 Luguyala Patriots          36   10  17   9    32   33   −1    47
 6 AFC Okahavi                36   11  13  12    33   39   −6    46
 7 Nanami Dragons             36   11  11  14    34   36   −2    44
 8 Gadive City                36   11  10  15    36   42   −6    43
 9 Koksho City                36   11   8  17    31   37   −6    41
10 Okakameb City              36    8  15  13    34   37   −3    39

The true north, eh? Of all teams- it's the Triceratopses who have eked out a league title. A small city team, piping Thayaferu United to the league title on the final day. But really, they had a chance to seal it themselves, but couldn't- With 59 points on the final day, they only managed a 0-0 draw. Thayaferu United had a chance to win the league, winning 1-0 and ahead in the league table on the final day. But who else would step up but Aksum rivals, Koksho City? Ninth place, yes- but ready to spoil a party. Koksho City pumped two past Thayaferu United, in the 82nd and 88th minutes, to take them from 61 points in the live table, to 59, an ddown to 58. Thayaferu fans, at home, were stunned- no promotion opportunities whatsoever.

BSL Promotion Playoff           Pld  W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 AFC Kosactus                   6   3  2  1   10   7  +3   11 - Promoted to the Banijan Soccer League
2 Umbazi Metropolitan SC         6   3  1  2    5   6  −1   10 - Qualify for the BSL Promotion Playoff Final
3 Pagazai Triceratopses          6   2  1  3    7   7   0    7
4 Dimbogourou Sporting Club      6   2  0  4    5   7  −2    6

Maybe the BSL Promotion Playoff has given us a surprise! AFC Kosactus, from the Moravican First Division, has won promotion- probably the second favorites behind Umbazi. Those were probably the clear top two teams here, and it showed, as neither Pagazai nor Dimbogourou came anywhere close in this dramatic playoff. We can advance to the Final matchday of this group- where AFC Kosactus and Umbazi Metropolitan both sat, with 10 points. AFC Kosactus facing Pagazai, while Dimbogourou were hosting Umbazi. Which team could get there?

Neither team looked that impressive- AFC Kosactus went down 2-0 at half, and then scrambled back late for a 2-2 draw. Getting the point that was necessary- unless Umbazi could get three points? The answer was no. The Flightless Birds were grounded on this day, as Dimbogourou thoroughly defeated their Southern League counterparts, in a 2-0 game that easily could have been 4 or 5-0. A strange one- if the hosts had found that kind of form earlier in group play, there's a decent chance they'd be in the BSL. Instead, they have held down Umbazi, and sent them them to the Playoff Final- can Umbazi use that second chance, at the national stadium, to get back to at least the BSL?

by **Banija** » Tue Nov 12, 2024 11:47 am

Banijan Soccer League in the S-FPL Era- Year 17 Preview & Basic Information

The Banijan Soccer League(BSL) is the second tier of the Banijan & Busogan soccer pyramid. It consists of 18 Banijan teams, and 4 Busogan squads(Lakiska SC, Dukuma SC, Tezirbu Foxes, and Serizar FC). Promotion to the S-FPL is quite simple- the league champion is promoted to the big leagues, the Shango-Fogoa Premier League. The worst finishing Banijan/Busogan team in the S-FPL is relegated down to the BSL. Simple, straightforward, logical, and intuitive, right? Pro/Rel between this league and the regional tiers, however, is slightly more complicated.

Relegation from the BSL happens on a national basis. On the Banijan side, it is fairly simple. The worst Banijan team is relegated to the regional leagues. The second-worst Banijan team shall play in a single leg, neutral site playoff against the second place team from the BSL Promotion Playoff Final loser, for the right to join the BSL. This match will take place at the Stadium of the Restoration- the national stadium in Busukuma, seating 91,835.

On the Busogan side, it is much more complicated. The worst finishing Busogan team, if they finish 10th or worst, is automatically relegated to the Busogan National League(BNL). That league's champion is promoted to the BSL. Simple enough, right? But it gets more complicated than that. If the worst finishing Busogan side finishes higher than 10th, they have a chance to earn back their spot in the BSL. If they finish 8th or 9th, they can earn back their spot by winning a one game playoff against the Busogan National League champions- on the road. If they finish 4th through 7th, it is the same thing- except that playoff is at home. And if that side somehow happens to get into the top 3(meaning there is at least one Busogan side in the S-FPL), then there will simply be no pro/rel that season on the Busogan side.

But that's not all! If multiple Busogan sides finish in the bottom 5, the other sides must compete in a playoff to earn their spot in the BSL. For example, imagine Busogan side A finishes 21st, another finishes 20th, and another finishes 18th. Then the 21st team is automatically relegated. The 20th team will play the 2nd place team in the Busogan National League in a one-game playoff, and the 18th place side will play the 3rd place team in the Busogan National League in a one game playoff. In this scenario, those one game playoffs will be hosted by the teams in the Busogan National League.

Got all that? One more thing to figure out- LBCT spots! The top 2 teams qualify directly for the Liga B Champions Trophy. The next 4 teams qualify for the LBCT Qualification Playoff. 3v6 and 4v5, in each of the semifinals, with the 3rd and 4th place teams playing at home. The semifinals will each be played until there is a winner- no replays. Winners will play in the LBCT Qualification Playoff Final, at the Stadium of the Restoration.

Simple, right? Not quite- but it makes sense!

Last season's participants who left
Rukunbi FC- promoted to the S-FPL
Jaribga Soccer Club(worst-finishing Busogan team in the league; finished in 21st place out of 22 teams in the BSL)
Barmos United(Finished in last place in the BSL)
Umbazi Metropolitan SC(lost BSL Qualifier)

Joining the BSL this Season
Aissa United- Relegated from the S-FPL
Serizar FC(Busogan National League winner)
Cerenus United(Northern League winner, BSL Promotion Playoff Winner)
Busemlu Park SC(Southern League winner, BSL Qualifier Winner)

Roster Key-
Underlined players are Banijan internationals.
Nationality is listed if they are not Banijan.
Italicized players are internationals for a foreign country.
All players are male unless otherwise specified.

Teams in the Banijan Soccer League-
1. Amaku City Football Club. ACFC. Location: Amaku, Bunyoro. Colors: Red.

2. Askatasuna Football Club. ASK. Location: Askatasuna, Aksum. Colors: Green & White.

3. Cerenus United. CNU. Location: Cerenus, Aksum. Colors: Pink.

4. Bunyoro Regional Sporting Club. BRSC. Location: Dodomo, Bunyoro. Colors: Blue.

5. BUSEMBE TIMBERWOLVES. BTMW. Location: Busembe, Kitara.

6. Hawabark Boulders. HWB. Loction: Hawabark, Buganda. Colors: Red.

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7. Mamari City. MMC. Loction: Mamari, Kitara. Colors: Blue.

8. Dukuma Sporting Club. DSC. Location: Dukuma, North Island, Busoga Islands. Colors: Purple & white.

9. Duntho Sporting Club. DUN. Loction: Duntho, Hangaza. Colors: Green.

10. Herzegovina Phoenix. PHX. Location: Vdizi, Moravica.

11. Igulu City Football Club. ICFC. Location: Igulu, Hangaza. Colors: Blue.

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12. Isipongo Flash. IF. Location: Isipongo, Buganda. Colors: Black & white.

13. Serizar Football Club. Location: Serizar, South Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Blue.

14. Kabakono City. KBC. Location: Kabakona, Kitara. Colors: Blue.

15. Lakiska Sporting Club. LSC. Location: Lakiska, South Island, Busoga Islands. Colors: Red.

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16. Bwubanza City Soccer Club. BCSC. Location: Bwubanza, Bunyoro. Colors: Blue

17. The Lwanga Lions. LWG. Location: Lwanga, Buganda. Colors: Orange.

18. Tezirbu Foxes. TZF. Location: Tezirbu, North Island, Busoga. Color: Green.

19. Ogbordu Diamond Football Club. ODFC. Location: Hoima, Ankole. Colors: Orange.

20. Aissa United Football Club. AUFC. Location: Aissa, Hangaza. Colors: Blue & white.

21. Sororo City. SOR. Location: Sororo, Bunyoro. Colors: Blue.

22. Busemlu Park Sporting Club. BSM. Location: Busemlu Park, Buganda. Colors: Orange.

All-Banija Sports Magazine Projected Order of Finish

Aissa United
Lakiska SC
Bunyoro RSC
Busembe Timberwolves
Herzegovina Phoenix
Hawabark Boulders
Igulu City FC
Lwanga Lions
Dukuma SC
Duntho SC
Kabakono City
Amaku City
Mamari City
Askatasuna FC
Isipongo Flash
Ogbordu Diamond FC
Bwubanza City SC
Cerenus United
Sororo City
Tezirbu Foxes
Busemlu Park SC
Serizar FC

Let's start with the top of the projected table here folks!

First, we will talk about Aissa United. Something of a yo-yo club in this day and age- constantly getting promoted, and then relegated, and then promoted again. Remember Isaac Newton's third law- an object in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force. The same thing applies to yo-yo clubs- they will continue bouncing between the divisions until they can stabilize themselves in the top flight, or the bottom falls out from under them in the second tier. But we think the yo-yo will continue. They have the most global squad of any team in this division, and with a new manager in there, they are a club with just enough new ideas to win the league title. The bar is high, with only one promotion spot- but they've reached it before, and we think that this season, they will reach it again. Their strength is in their attack- expect those midfielders to do damage.

Who are the biggest challengers? Let's start with Lakiska SC. A team built around fierce defending, they are Busoga's best chance of getting back to the big time. They've got a veteran defense, anchored by veteran DM Parker Mathis, the player from Hapilopper- although they've got a 19 year old donning the #1 jersey, in net. But ultimately, they've got a strong team, and they will make a big push for the Shango-Fogoa Premier League. We think they will fall just short but... Reasonable expectations.

Next we will look at Bunyoro RSC. The biggest contender who has actually never played before in the Shango-Fogoa Premier League. They are trying to be the second Banijan team to make the climb all the way from the regional leagues to the top flight, since Capitol City FC has already done it once before. They've got kind of an old team, with four 34+ year old starters- can they last a full season? We will see. But they've got a new manager too, and are blooming with talent- they believe their time is now to join the S-FPL, and they don't want to let this opportunity go to waste.

The last contender we will look at is the Busembe Timberwolves. Their relegation to this league has been rough- they are probably the most stunning relegation in S-FPL history(on the Banijan side). A team that used to regularly compete for IFCF spots, now wallowing away in the second tier. It speaks to the strength of this tier- with only one promotion slot, teams like Busembe, Hawabark, and Aissa are wallowing away here, knowing they would be mid-table teams if the S-FPL had twenty Banijan teams, not 10. Espy va Drake has opted for stability this year- trusting in his core, a team full of veterans, to chase promotion. They are going to score lots of goals- but can they defend well enough to finish top of the table? Only time will tell.

Both the Hawabark Boulders and the Herzegovina Phoenix could surprise people, as well. Both teams are well-drilled and coached, and if the stars align, could make a run. But we would rate that rather unlikely for both squads.

Let's play ball!

by **Busoga Islands** » Fri Nov 15, 2024 10:08 am

Ebrahim Razav Cup

This is the knockout cup competition for the Busoga Islands. All 14 professional teams from the Busoga Islands, across the third and second tiers, are entered into this competition.

The format is simple. The top two highest placed teams in the league the prior season (Lakiska SC and Dukuma SC), get a bye to the Quarterfinals. Everyone else plays in the first round. 12 matchups, all single leg, with a random draw determining home/away. Those 6 winners, plus the two bye recipients, onto the QFs. The bracket is re-drawn after each round. The QFs and SFs are both two-legged ties, while the Final is one match at a neutral site- this season occurring at the 63,000 capacity Dukuma Oval. The away goals rule exists for the QF and SF round.

Opening Round

Castra Bostra FK 0–1 Altica FC
Beirutspor 1–1 Serizar FC (1–4 AET)
Kocakhan AFC 3–1 Independence FK
Osmazar Wallabies 0–0 Nezrouch Rovers (0–2 AET)
Lakiska Kangaroos 0–2 Tezirbu Foxes
Jaribga SC 3–0 Tripoli Foresters

Reminder that the away goals rule remains in place for all RBSA & BISA two-legged competitions

Quarterfinals

First Leg
Tezirbu Foxes 3–1 Kocakhan AFC
Jaribga SC 0–1 Altica FC
Nezrouch Rovers 1–0 Dukuma SC
Lakiska SC 0–1 Serizar FC

Second Leg
Kocakhan AFC 0–2 Tezirbu Foxes (Tezirbu Foxes advance, 5-1 on aggregate, to the Semifinals)
Altica FC 4–1 Jaribga SC (Altica FC advance, 5-1 on aggregate, to the Semifinals)
Dukuma SC 0–0 Nezrouch Rovers (Nezrouch Rovers advance, 1-0 on aggregate, to the Semifinals)
Serizar FC 2–0 Lakiska SC (Serizar FC advance, 3-0 on aggregate, to the Semifinals)

Off to the Quarterfinals of the Competition! The Ebrahim Razav Cup is named after the first President of this Islamic Republic- the founding father, of sorts, of the modern nation. We're already at 8 in this small island nation, and we've got some fun, fascinating ties. Might be the last place in the multiverse where you can still see the away goals rule in all of its glory, is it not? Anyways- the first legs were maybe not extremely entertaining, but they were decisive. No draws here- only winners allowed. The Foxes were the most impressive team in this first leg, with veteran striker Emre Yildizoglu powering them past Kocakhan AFC. Kocakhan may indeed be the worst team out of these 14- but a comfortable home win is a comfortable win. The other three matches were all tight- a trio of 1-0 wins to round out the first leg. Altica FC and Serizar FC travelign for their wins, while Nezrouch had a minor upset with a 1-0 home W over Dukuma SC.

Of course, the business end is the second leg of these ties. The Foxes once again outclassed their opposition, winning 2-0 away from home and a grand total of 5-1 on aggregate. ALtica FC also won big, taking a 1-0 away win and boatracing their opponents, chasing Jaribga SC out of the cup with a 4-1 thrashing on the day- and a 5-1 demolishing across two legs, enough to reach the semifinal of this competition. Now, of course, here are the big 2 Busogan teams left- both having been felled, 1-0, in the first round. Can the two biggest teams in Busogan football (however low of a bar that is to clear) rescue themselves in this second leg?

Dukuma SC would have the first opportunity, against the Nezrouch Rovers. It was, without a doubt, one of the ugliest games you'll ever watch. Nezrouch didn't even try to attack- they simply put everybody behind the ball, booted it down the pitch, and played physical, ferocious defense. The style of a football was a crime on the eyes of any neutral- but if you are a Rovers fan, it was beautiful. They were able to hold on, away from home, while having 0 shots on goal and just 22% possesion- the 0-0 draw, coupled with their 1-0 home win in the last leg, pushed them through to the Semifinals. The other match, Serizar FC against Lakiska, was also fascinating. Lakiska SC has legitimate hopes at promotion this year- Serizar FC just got promoted to the second tier. Yet, Serizar FC traveled to the nation's capitol and earned a 1-0 away win, getting that crucial away goal. Lakiska SC had to stretch themselves in the second leg, but ultimately, it wasn't enough- Serizar FC had a pair of late goals on the counter, and the celebrations were long- they've knocked Busoga's biggest club straight out of the cup.

Semifinals

First Leg
Tezirbu Foxes 1–2 Serizar FC
Altica FC 2–1 Nezrouch Rovers

Second Leg
Serizar FC 0–2 Tezirbu Foxes (The Tezirbu Foxes advance, 3-2 on aggregate, to the Ebrahim Razav Cup Final)
Nezrouch Rovers 1–0 Altica FC (The Nezrouch Rovers advance, while 2-2 on aggregate, 1-0 on away gaols, to the Ebrahim Razav Cup FInal)

More random draws, eh? The first legs were interesting- all four teams scoring at least once, in close, open contests. We'll start in Tezirbu. The Foxes, who have looked really solid this tournament so far, fell tragically against Serizar FC. Serizar FC are on a high, after upsetting Lakiska SC and dumping the trophy holders, and the country's largest team, straight out of the cup two rounds early. THey were able to counter with ferocity- Banijan teenager Vuyo Ukudlala providing both a goal and an assist in the first half. While they had to park the bus in the first half, and conceded once, those two goals were huge- especially since they were away gaols. Does Serizar FC have one foot in the Final?

Meanwhile, in the other match, Altica FC beat the Nezrouch Rovers in a tight contest, by a 2-1 score at home. That away goal could loom large for the Rovers, however- that rule makes this about as tight of a matchup as possible heading into the second leg.

The second legs, in both ties, were simply sensational. We will start on the South Island, where Serizar FC hosted the Tezirbu Foxes. The Foxes were in deep trouble- having lost 2-1, at home, they would need to score at least twice, at a minimum, to have any prayer at reaching the Final. And that is exactly what they did- while keeping a clean sheet. Helped, of course, by Onan Bayat skying a 42nd minute penalty over the bar. But the Foxes went into a tough environment, with the well stacked against them- and they performed. Their CB, Ecevit Saltik, scored on a corner in the 62nd minute, and it was Aysoy Gokay, the winger, who scored the tie-winner in the 74th minute. A sensational comeback W- who doesn't want to be in a Final?

In the other tie, Nezrouch hosted Altica FC. They would only need a lone goal- thanks to the away goals rule, a 1-0 win would put them through, despite being level on aggregate. And that's exactly what happened- a Rovers goal early on, and then the defending geting it together and shutting shit down. Both winners entered the second leg trailing, and came out victorious. Gonna be quite a Final, won't it be?

Final
Played at the Dukuma Oval(cap. 63,000)

Tezirbu Foxes 1–0 Nezrouch Rovers

The Ebrahim Razav Cup Final. Tezirbu Foxes, of the Banijan Soccer League, against the Nezrouch Rovers, who are the champions of the Busogan National League. The Foxes, currently in the BSL, against the Rovers, who will join them there next year (assuming, of course, the Foxes stay up- no guarantee of that). Despite neither of Busoga's 'big 2' in this matchup, it is still a fascinating match. Can the Foxes or the Rovers get the win? The prize this year is great as well- with the VCI no longer a thing, BISA Has confirmed with regional authorities that the winner of this tournament will get a singular Busogan spot in the Hui Lā- the first time a Busogan team will participate in an Arrosian competition. No Busogan team ever participated in the AOCL.

So with such high stakes, and such a great opportunity in front of them (to likely get pummeled by other Arrosian teams), the two teams kicked off at a packed house, in Dukuma, for such a great prize. It was a great match- high intensity, both sets of fans being really loud, and really engaged. But it was the Foxes who would have the better of things here. Looking towards their Banijan #10, Janko Mendy had a sensational strike- a 25 yard hit, beating the keeper and scoring the game's lone goal in the 51st minute. And the Foxes were able to hold onto that- and eventually, lift the Cup. "These kind of matches- that's why you come to a club like Tezirbu." Said the manager, Amat Kayode. "We're built for this- this trophy is going to help provide the memories of a lifetime for Foxes football fans."

by **Banija** » Fri Nov 15, 2024 12:22 pm

Banijan Soccer League in the S-FPL Era- Year 17 Matchdays 1-41

Penultimate Table

Banijan Soccer League        Pld   W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Herzegovina Phoenix       41   26   8   7    65   27  +38    86
 2 Busembe Timberwolves      41   24  13   4    77   31  +46    85
 3 Hawabark Boulders         41   26   4  11    70   35  +35    82
 4 Aissa United              41   24   9   8    53   28  +25    81
 5 Igulu City FC             41   23   9   9    52   26  +26    78
 6 Bunyoro RSC               41   23   7  11    53   29  +24    76
 7 Mamari City               41   21   6  14    60   50  +10    69
 8 Kabakono City             41   16   9  16    40   42   −2    57
 9 Dukuma SC                 41   13  15  13    45   45    0    54
10 Amaku City                41   16   6  19    47   50   −3    54
11 Lakiska SC                41   14  11  16    42   46   −4    53
12 Lwanga Lions              41   14  11  16    41   45   −4    53
13 Duntho SC                 41   14  10  17    49   51   −2    52
14 Ogbordu Diamond FC        41   15   7  19    37   43   −6    52
15 Tezirbu Foxes             41   15   5  21    41   54  −13    50
16 Askatasuna FC             41   12  12  17    36   51  −15    48
17 Bwubanza City SC          41   12   7  22    32   47  −15    43
18 Busemlu Park SC           41   11  10  20    28   43  −15    43
19 Isipongo FLash            41   11   9  21    33   55  −22    42
20 Sororo City               41    9   7  25    33   63  −30    34 - Guaranteed to be a bottom 2 Banijan team- will either play in BSL Qualifier OR get directly relegated
21 Cerenus United            41    9   7  25    33   67  −34    34 - Guaranteed to be a bottom 2 Banijan team- will either play in BSL Qualifier OR get directly relegated
22 Serizar FC                41    8   8  25    32   71  −39    32 - Lowest finishing Busogan team- relegated to the Busogan National League

With just one Matchday left, let's handicap the races we got going on here, shall we? 41 out of 42 matches played, the season is largely done- but the most exciting part, the conclusion, will rapidly come to our TV screens and stadia very, very soon. What are we looking forward to?

First, let's take a look at the title race- which also doubles as the promotion race, as only the league champions earn promotion. There are two teams still in contention for a league title- the Herzegovina Phoenix presently sit in first place, with 86 points, while the Busembe Timberwolves sit directly behind them, with 85 points. It's been a weird title race- many would say that the Timberwolves, by and large, have been the better team across the whole season. They lead the league both in goals for and goal differential, and they have the fewest losses (4) across 41 matches. They are largely fairly consistent. But how are they in second place? Well, look at that draws number- 13 draws on the season. Even worse- a shocking 8 draws have come from winning positions- and 5(!) of those have come from when the Timberwolves were leading inside the final half hour.

"They've been brilliant- but have had a staggering inability to close out matches when it matters most." Said one TV analyst. "And they are probably in line to pay the ultimate price for it- a brutal end to what has otherwise been a fantastic season." Meanwhile, the Phoenix are sitting around, waiting to take advantage. They've been good, for sure. Sensational? Far from it. But they control their own destiny- win and you're in. "This is where every team wants to be heading into the final Day, masters of their own fate." Said The Phoenix manager. "The only stat that matters is points, and that's what we're #1 in." They aren't #1 in anything else- not goals for, not goals against, not total wins, or anything like that- but they're arguably the most consistent team in the league, from match to match and within matches- that's why they find themselves in their current position.

Where will the title be decided? The Phoenix will travel to a mid-table Duntho SC side on the Final Day, while the Timberwolves will host another mid-table team in the Lwanga Lions. Can either team win the league?

And then, of course, we got the LCBT Qualification Spots. The top two slots in the league go directly to the LBCT- one of which will certainly be the Phoenix, and barring catastrophe, the other will be Busembe. But places 3-6 go to a playoff. What's going on there? Well, it's fairly boring- the top 2 in this league are basically confirmed, and the next 4 in this league are also mathematically confirmed. The only question is not who is going to the LBCT Qualification Playoff- but in what order. The only thing we know for sure is that the Boulders will get a home game, but they could end up in 3rd or 4th. The team with the largest range of possibilities is Aissa United. Currently in 4th, they could finish as high as 3rd, or as low as 5th. Igulu City FC will either finish in 4th or 5th, while Bunyoro RSC, in either 5th or 6th, will have an away semifinal regardless.

Plenty to watch for there as well. Hawabark will travel to Tezirbu, home of the Ebrahim Razav Cup champions. Aissa United will host Sororo City, Igulu City will travel to Dukuma, while Bunyoro RSC hosts Mamari City. A lot left at stake- but everybody's eyes are on the real prize, that sweet, sweet IFCF berth.

And lastly... Relegation. The craziness of relegation from this league. Let's dive into it! On the Busogan side, only one team will be relegated- as Serizar FC, just freshly promoted, will go straight back down to the regional leagues. A rough campaign, their 32 points leaves them in dead last, far behind the next worse Busogan team, the Tezirbu Foxes. Where things are interesting is on the Banijan side of the ledger. The next two worst teams are both Banijan, and... it's a race to the bottom.

Remember- the worst Banijan team goes straight down, and the second worst gets to play in a one-game playoff, where they have a chance to stay up. So both teams desperately, desperately need to win. Cerenus United just came up, although them and Sororo City have both had a rough go of it. Cerenus United want to avoid being that 2nd/3rd tier yo-yo club, and they've got one match, to earn one match, to avoid that state. Cerenus United will host the Isipongo Flash in a last chance to save their season- while Sororo City might be in trouble facing a motivated Aissa United squad. We shall see- but the bottom of the table should provide us some spark on the Final Day as well.

Got all that? Good. Are you ready for the Final Day?

by **Banija** » Sat Nov 16, 2024 6:09 pm

Banijan Soccer League in the S-FPL Era- Year 17 Final Day

Matchday 42- the Final Day! Take a look at the above table... what are today's matchups? We'll be doing a nice whip-around, going around the grounds where the interesting stuff is happening. We will mostly be focused on the 2 title-deciding matchups, and the relegation matchup. Which means...

Title-Deciding Matches
Duntho SC v. Herzegovina Phoenix
Busembe Timberwolves v. Lwanga Lions

Relegation Matches
Aissa United v. Sororo CIty
Cerenus United v. Isipongo Flash

Whip-around show

All 11 matches today, of course, kick off at the same time- 3 PM local.

3:07 PM- Cerenus United v. Isipongo Flash

... "And we're barely 7 minutes in, and Cerenus United have gotten themselves a penalty here against the Flash!" The matchday commentator said. "Freshly promoted, first year manager- this could be a big one. The foul was clear- the Flash defender was certainly late on the tackle in the box, and the yellow was properly brandished. It's Amina Toure, who's going to step up and be the Cerenus United taker. Can they avoid a complete and total calamity, with this goal to put them up? The referee blows his whistle. Amina Toure steps up, and... GOAL! It's a goal for the #9, as Cerenus United, needing at minimum a point, put themselves in pole position early- they are ahead of Sororo City in the live table. There's a lot of time in both matches of course- but this is a solid start."

3:11 PM- Aissa United v. Sororo City

... "WHAT A HIT! WOW!" The commentator pauses to allow the crowd to be heard. "The Hangaza Unified Stadium, the largest stadium in the Banijan Soccer League, is most certainly shell-shocked on this day. Sororo City clearly got news about their impending relegation, because Zikoranaudodimma Upbeker leapt up and hit a stunning bicycle kick- might be the goal of the season. Is that enough to save them? Who knows? But both relegation threatened teams in Banija are up 1-0, fighting aggressively to keep their place in Banija's second tier. In the live table currently- if scores hold, then it is Cerenus United who are going straight back into the regional leagues."

3:19 PM- Aissa United v. Sororo City

... "Oh wow, that's a howler! It's 1-1 here at the Hangaza Unified Stadium- and the Sororo City goalkeeper is beside himself. But we're not sure- he's only got himself to blame. A crossed whipped in by Marius Haugum- not the easiest, but still, he should have caught the ball. It slipped straight through his hands, and then his defender, not expecting the ball on the ground, accidentally banged it into his own net. Oh wow, oh wow- is that the goal that is going to send Sororo City down? Do they have the talent to score another? It's 1-1..."

3:28 PM- Busembe Timberwolves v. Lwanga Lions

"We've got to check in on the title race, don't we? But so far, all the excitement has been at the bottom of the table- both Busembe and the Phoenix are locked into games that are 0-0, both with everything to play for. The Phoenix will take this, of course- but however, if they draw, they don't control their own destiny. Both teams are going forward but not too ambitious- as the minutes tick on, expect both title-contending teams to try and really push for something. But with every passing moment, the chances of the Phoenix to get back to the S-FPL grow stronger and stronger...

3:36 PM- Aissa United v. Sororo City

"Oh wow! This match has turned on its head entirely. Aissa United took the own goal, and now with Sororo City having to get on the front foot, they are punishing Sororo City effectively. We've just had two goals in two minutes here out east- Güs Çíwâ scoring in the 34th minute to give Aissa the lead, while Kasozi Mizilsa opened his account on the day with a goal of his own. It's now 3-1 to Aissa United at their own home stadium- turning the relegation race on its head. There are cheers in Cerenus while these goals are going in- remember, as long as Cerenus United lead, Sororo City needs to win outright. So they need 3 goals here, not just two to equalize. Is all already lost in the first half?"

3:42 PM- Duntho SC v. Herzegovina Phoenix

"AND IT'S A GOAL FOR HERZEGOVINA! What a play! A perfectly weighted through ball, with Ardent Blaze playing Jeshuah Odika perfectly through the heart of the defense. Blaze is 35 years old- this very well might be his last game for the Phoenix. Is that assist enough to get them over the top? A 1-0 lead, that would be insurmountable- a win by any score would give them the title. But wait.. Is that a VAR check? And... Yes it is! They are going to look. He's got to be onside there, right? Let's see the replay."

THe lines are drawn on the TV cameras, showing Odika a hair offsides

"Oh wait, oh wow- this one is going to be controversial to say the least! By a nose, by a hair- Odika is JUST offsides." The referee blows his whistle, and officially makes the call of no goal. "Wow- that's a brutal way for the Phoenix to have what could have been a title-clinching goal taken off the board. Phoenix fans are absolutely incensed- obviously, in the stadium, you don't see the replay. But they are howling mad out there- they've got to keep their composure! Players surroundign the referee, yellows being shown every which way- it shows the pressure the players are under, the stakes of the match. And.. Oh my! Is that a red for Reinhard Drake? 16 seasons as the manager, probably his last here- and a straight red shown to the manager.

The Phoenix are trying to win the league, and their manager has been shown a red card for dissent. Oh my, this is going to be nuts!"

3:49 PM- Halftime Everywhere. Halftime Scores of mentioned games

0Busembe Timberwolves 0–0 Lwanga Lions
0Duntho SC 0–0 Herzegovina Phoenix
Aissa United 3–1 Sororo City
Cerenus United 1–0 Isipongo Flash

If these scores hold, remember- the Phoenix win the league, Busembe finishes in second, while Sororo City get relegated.

4:10 PM- Busembe Timberwolves v. Lwanga Lions

"OH MY, THAT GOAL HAS PUT THEM ON TOP OF THE LEAGUE! AND LISTEN TO THE WOLF'S DEN ROAR! If you want to win the league, you've got to step up in the biggest moments, and this has been one of those moments. We're just a few minutes into the second half- players still getting their sea legs. This goal was well-earned. A set piece, in a position where they could put a dangerous ball into the box. Katarino Ssoko whips in a brilliant ball, and Oliver Touray is on the other end, heading the ball into the back of the net. Finally, we've got some movement in this title race! An immediate impact- the Timberwolves move ahead of the Phoenix in the live table. Now have 88 points, compared to 87 for the Phoenix. Is that the goal that will win them the league?"

4:17 PM- Duntho SC v. Herzegovina Phoenix

"Today simply might not be Herzegovina's day. So many opportunities today- and they simply can't seem to convert them. Twice in this second half, the team has hit the woodwork, getting oh so close to score what is needed to win the league title. Saul Obama, the 38 year old captain who's certainly retiring after today, hit the post on a free kick about 2 minutes into the half. And then, just about 30 seconds ago, Janani Onango had a chance from point blank range- where he smashed the ball straight into the crossbar. Not sure how he missed the gaping net- but the Phoenix can't seem to put anything in the frame. Will that curse them?"

4:26 PM- Aissa United v. Sororo City

"The relegation race is all but over. Aissa United, despite falling behind early, is in a different class of opponent for Sororo City- who are going down not with a bang, but a whimper. It's currently 6-1 at the Hangaza Unified Stadium, and with Cerenus United still leading, this thing is a wrap. Hook, line, and sinker. Not much reason to come here for updates anymore- Sororo City fans should enjoy their last 30 minutes or so in the first tier, before they are relegated brutally down to the regional tiers."

4:33 PM- Duntho SC v. Herzegovina Phoenix

"IT'S A GOAL FOR DUNTHO! A GOAL FOR DUNTHO!" He paused to allow the crowd reaction to be heard. "Things are going from bad to worse for the Herzegovina Phoenix, who entered the matchday in first place in the league. Overturned goal, hitting the woodwork twice- they are doing everything humanly possible to score, and yet, not get on the scoreboard. But Duntho bided their time, and then blitzed them with a counter-attack. Thaddée Razafindramahata got the goal for Duntho. An interesting biographical fact- Razafindramahata is a product of the Herzegovina City FC Youth academy, the biggest rivals of the Herzegovina Phoenix. He spoke briefly in pressers how the 'last' thing he'd want is 'those purple bastards going back to the show', and, at least in this moment, he has prevented it. Considering scores elsewhere, the Phoenix likely need two to go up. Can they get there?"

4:41 PM- Busembe Timberwolves v. Lwanga Lions

"And it's a second goal for Busembe! The Timberwolves seem to be on the brink of returning to the S-FPL. Espy va Drake, who's here in person for this matchup at the Wolf's Den, is grinning widely- he can sense that the trophy is coming. Things are basically a wrap here. Darin Nicolas, the 36 year old captain, scored the goal, with the Chromatik having quite a calm celebration. Is he going to be lifting a trophy in 10 minutes?"

4:46 PM- Duntho SC v. Herzegovina Phoenix

"The Phoenix have a corner kick here in the 88th minute. They need to score here, and then score again, to win the league. Everybody's in the box- all their defenders, including the keeper. Got to try something when you're desperate, right? The ball is whipped in and punched away... And everybody's chasing! It's going to be a Duntho player getting to the ball first- and nobody's back there! He's going to run it all the way in, hitting the ball from about 40 yards into the back of an empty net.

And that's a wrap folks. Busembe's going to win the league- the Herzegovina Phoenix will feel sick, having completely choked away what would have been a tremendous opportunity to earn promotion to the Shango-Fogoa Premier League. And yet, they will feel hard done by- a combination of VAR, a red card to their coach, and the woodwork, have conspired to deny them promotion. But that's how the sport goes- the crazy highs are only made possible by the devastating lows. And make no mistake about it- this is devastating.

That said, despite it being devastating- one team's devastation is another's opportunity. Busembe did not control its destiny going into today- but they took care of business and applied the pressure to their rivals, who couldn't handle the heat. Better luck next time- but the Timberwolves, deservedly so, will be making their triumphant return to the Shango-Fogoa Premier League.

Matchday 42
Busembe Timberwolves 2–0 Lwanga Lions
Duntho SC 2–0 Herzegovina Phoenix
Aissa United 7–2 Sororo City
Cerenus United 1–0 Isipongo Flash
Tezirbu Foxes 0–1 Hawabark Boulders
Dukuma SC 1–3 Igulu City FC
Bwubanza City SC 0–1 Kabakono City
Busemlu Park SC 0–1 Lakiska SC
Bunyoro RSC 0–2 Mamari City
Askatasuna FC 1–0 Ogbordu Diamond FC
Amaku City 2–1 Serizar FC

Final Table

Banijan Soccer League        Pld   W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Busembe Timberwolves      42   25  13   4    79   31  +48    88 - League champion, Promoted to the S-FPL, Qualify for the Liga B Champions Trophy 
 2 Herzegovina Phoenix       42   26   8   8    65   29  +36    86 - Qualify for the IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy
 3 Hawabark Boulders         42   27   4  11    71   35  +36    85 - Qualify for the LBCT Qualification Playoff
 4 Aissa United              42   25   9   8    60   30  +30    84 - Qualify for the LBCT Qualification Playoff
 5 Igulu City FC             42   24   9   9    55   27  +28    81 - Qualify for the LBCT Qualification Playoff
 6 Bunyoro RSC               42   23   7  12    53   31  +22    76 - Qualify for the LBCT Qualification Playoff
 7 Mamari City               42   22   6  14    62   50  +12    72
 8 Kabakono City             42   17   9  16    41   42   −1    60
 9 Amaku City                42   17   6  19    49   51   −2    57
10 Lakiska SC                42   15  11  16    43   46   −3    56
11 Duntho SC                 42   15  10  17    51   51    0    55
12 Dukuma SC                 42   13  15  14    46   48   −2    54
13 Lwanga Lions              42   14  11  17    41   47   −6    53
14 Ogbordu Diamond FC        42   15   7  20    37   44   −7    52
15 Askatasuna FC             42   13  12  17    37   51  −14    51
16 Tezirbu Foxes             42   15   5  22    41   55  −14    50
17 Bwubanza City SC          42   12   7  23    32   48  −16    43
18 Busemlu Park SC           42   11  10  21    28   44  −16    43
19 Isipongo FLash            42   11   9  22    33   56  −23    42
20 Cerenus United            42   10   7  25    34   67  −33    37 - Second worst Banijan team, will play in BSL Promotion Playoff Final against Umbazi Metropolitan SC
21 Sororo City               42    9   7  26    35   70  −35    34 - Lowest finishing Banijan team- relegated to the Banijan regional leagues
22 Serizar FC                42    8   8  26    33   73  −40    32 - Lowest finishing Busogan team- relegated to the Busogan National League

LBCT Qualification Playoff
Semifinals
Played at the home stadium of the team who finished higher in the league table

Hawabark Boulders 1–0 Bunyoro RSC
Aissa United 1–1 Igulu City FC (1–2 AET)

Final
Played at the Stadium of the Restoration(cap. 91,835) in Busukuma, National Capitol Region

Hawabark Boulders 0–0 Igulu City FC (1–0 AET)

BSL Promotion Playoff Final
Played at the Stadium of the Restoration(cap. 91,835) in Busukuma, National Capitol Region

Cerenus United 4–2 Umbazi Metropolitan SC

by **Banija** » Sun Nov 17, 2024 8:00 am

Year 17 of the S-FPL Era- RBSA Cup

Format is simple. There are 68 Banijan teams in the pyramid, across all three levels. 10 in the first tier(S-FPL), 18 in the second tier(Banijan Soccer League), and 40 in the third tier(the various regional leagues). 8 regional league sides will enter the play-in round(bottom two last season in each of the 4 regional leagues), and the 4 winners will join the other 60 teams in the pyramid in the first round, which is the Round of 64.

From there, it is straight elimination. Matches are played at home fields(except for the Final), and both opponents and venues are chosen randomly. There are no draws or replays- matches are played until there is a winner, either via extra time or penalties, if necessary.

While there were plans for a joint Shango-Fogoa Cup, those fell through as the FFFF clubs mostly decided that cup play was 'unnecessary'.

Play-in Round
Koksho City 1–1 Kwadama Dojo (2–1 AET)
Umbazi FA 1–0 Corizova United
Okakameb City 1–0 Suwawa FC
Baleweye FC 2–1 Lake Wakiso AFC

Round of 64
Hawabark Boulders 1–0 Abomfa United
Barmos United 0–1 Kigagana Mountaineers
Busembe Timberwolves 0–1 Hoima Warriors
Busukuma AC 0–2 AFC Okahavi
Taramazna United 1–0 Gadive City
Isipongo Flash 1–1 Lwanga Lions (2–1 AET)
Igulu City FC 2–0 Koksho City
Herzegovina Phoenix 4–0 Cerenus United
Umbazi Metropolitan S 2–0 Pagazai Triceratopses
Duntho SC 1–0 Zakuta City
Jinja City FC 5–1 Dimbogourou Sporting
Kabakono City 2–0 Ogbordu Diamond FC
Nanami Dragons 3–1 Bunyoro RSC
Mukegara Warriors 0–1 Busukuma Force
Nsade United 2–2 Kiruvya Bulls (3–2 AET)
TK Korp Mynda 3–1 Garixas City
Herzegovina City FC 0–0 Okakameb City (0–1 AET)
Eastern Moravica Foot 0–4 Thayaferu United
Baleweye FC 1–1 Slobochia Bears (1–2 AET)
Djoro Athletic 0–1 AFC Kosactus
Selekawe Knights 0–0 Umbazi Footballers As (0–1 AET)
Koszagard City 1–1 Askatasuna FC (1–1 AET) (2–3 pen.)
Luguyala Patriots 0–1 Sororo City
Capitol City FC 0–0 Rukunbi FC (1–1 AET) (4–5 pen.)
Aissa United 2–2 Dodoma City Sporting (2–2 AET) (5–4 pen.)
New Olympus FC 4–2 Ruhanga SC
Amaku City 0–1 Mamari City
Kitara Athletic Socie 0–1 Gazaea Thunder
Boufaya Ravens 0–2 Kitara AA
Byakado City 0–1 Istria City FC
AFC Akwadua 0–0 Busemlu Park SC (1–0 AET)
Pumbasa Boars 1–3 Bwubanza City SC

Round of 32
Sororo City 0–0 Okakameb City (0–0 AET) (4–2 pen.)
Istria City FC 1–1 Hoima Warriors (2–2 AET) (4–3 pen.)
Nsade United 0–2 Rukunbi FC
Kabakono City 2–0 New Olympus FC
Herzegovina Phoenix 5–2 Slobochia Bears
Askatasuna FC 1–0 Gazaea Thunder
TK Korp Mynda 1–2 Kigagana Mountaineers
Isipongo FLash 2–0 Aissa United
Umbazi Metropolitan S 1–1 AFC Akwadua (2–1 AET)
Busukuma Force 2–0 Thayaferu United
Mamari City 2–0 Jinja City FC
AFC Kosactus 1–2 Bwubanza City SC
Kitara AA 0–1 AFC Okahavi
Igulu City FC 1–0 Taramazna United
Duntho SC 0–1 Nanami Dragons
Umbazi Footballers As 0–1 Hawabark Boulders

Round of 16
Kabakono City 0–0 Mamari City (0–2 AET)
Askatasuna FC 0–1 AFC Okahavi
Herzegovina Phoenix 1–0 Isipongo FLash
Busukuma Force 3–1 Nanami Dragons
Rukunbi FC 4–0 Kigagana Mountaineers
Umbazi Metropolitan S 0–1 Igulu City FC
Hawabark Boulders 1–1 Istria City FC (2–1 AET)
Sororo City 2–1 Bwubanza City SC

Cup competitions are always chaos- but this year's RBSA Cup takes the cake! We've done four rounds of competition to whittle down the field from 68 teams to just 8 remaining, and oh boy. Upsets (cupsets?) galore! None of the traditional "Big 5" Banijan clubs (The Three Cities- Herzegovina City, Istria City, and Jinja City, alongside Hoima Warriors and Busukuma AC) have gotten to this stage. Herzegovina City FC, the biggest club in Banija, lost, at home, in the first round, to the last place team in the Northern League. Think about that.

Chaos everywhere. So much so, only two of the 10 Banijan S-FPL teams even reached the Quarterfinals. Five teams from the BSL, Banija's second tier, remain in this round, while one regional league side, AFC Okahavi, have punched their way to the QFs- getting three wins in 90 minutes via three consecutive clean sheets, all away from home. Sorry to Kitara AA, Busukuma AC, and Askatasuna FC- you just got Okahavi'd.

You guys ready for the last 8?

Quarterfinals
AFC Okahavi 0–0 Herzegovina Phoenix (0–0 AET) (2–4 pen.)
Igulu City FC 2–4 Rukunbi FC
Mamari City 1–1 Sororo City (1–2 AET)
Hawabark Boulders 0–3 Busukuma Force

Off to the Quarterfinals! The teams involved can smell the trophy here. It is very possible, within their reach, within their grasp- can someone get it? First, we have AFC Okahavi against the Herzegovina Phoenix. AFC Okahavi, after winning three straight away games in this Cup, finally have a home game, and they've got record attendance- this might be the biggest game in club history. A team without history, a chance, at home, to reach the semifinals? They've pitched three consecutive clean sheets- and in this match, they got their fourth. 90 minutes- to 120. No goals conceded in 390 minutes of play. But unfortunately, with no goals of their own, they went to a PK shootout- and the Phoenix got their hard-earned win. What a run for AFC Okahavi- they went off to a standing ovation from their appreciative fans.

What else? Goals galore everywhere else. Rukunbi FC, whom many people think will get relegated, traveled to Igulu City and pumped four goals past Igulu City. A 4-2 contest- it was a high-scoring, barnburning, up and down contest. Veteran Farf winger, Arsenio Pradas, scored twice on the day for the visitors, serving as the star man. Both Malak Buuxo and Kobe Mzuzi added goals for them as well. Then, of course, we'll go to Mamari City- where Sororo City paid a visit to their BSL rivals. The league season is a straight up nightmare- but this Cup run, man, has been magical. What a toxin, right? The 104th minute winner from Dodou Touré punched them straight into the SFs- can they smell glory?

The other S-FPL team, the Busukuma Force, went up to Hawabark and ran the Boulders off the pitch- with 35 year old Quebecois national Moon II turning back the clock, scoring a brace to help put his team into the semifinal. They've got a squad to win this thing, don't they?

Semifinals
Sororo City 0–2 Rukunbi FC
Herzegovina Phoenix 2–1 Busukuma Force

And now, the semifinals! Both of the S-FPL teams playing a BSL team- a draw designed to get two big league clubs into the Final. But can it happen? First, Rukunbi FC played against Sororo City- traveling to Sororo City Park. The weather was terrible- a drenching, rainy day in Bunyoro, as Sororo City Park was packed to the brim for what would be a huge match. Each team one win away from the Stadium of the Restoration- a rare thing for clubs of this stature. But the capitol's biggest club didn't let bad weather stop them from a singular focus on their goal- which would be reaching the RBSA Cup Final. Salathiel Kavuuma, their talented goalkeeper, saving a penalty early on certainly helped. But Velimir Simeunović, a Farf/Banijan dual-national who's just 21, scored on a diving header in the 38th minute certainly helped too.

Are the Force built to weather the storm in a competition like this? Maybe not, but that's where the talent disparity between a lower first tier team, and a near bottom second tier team, came into play. They simply did not have the ability to break down a solid block from Rukunbi FC- And a brilliant counter-attacking goal from Sarafina Jassey, a winger off the bench, made the score 2-0 in the 69th minute- putting this one away, and more importantly, putting Istria's most forgotten about club back into the Final.

And now, for the other semifinal. The Herzegovina Phoenix facing off against the Busukuma Force. There's talent on this team- but there's certainly age as well, with three 35+ year old starters- including both a CM, and a CB, at 38 years old. Vanilla Sweets, their 38 year old CB, got beat by a player almost two decades her junior, with Sankung Sarr, a 22 year old CB for the Force, simply beating her to the spot on a corner and heading home. A 1-0 lead for the visitors at halftime- was Busukuma about to reach a Final in their own hometown? But in the second half, the Phoenix flipped a switch.

Ardent Blaze scored in the 58th minute to make it 1-1, and bring the house down here in the suburbs of Herzegovina City. They would look to the bench later on, trying to find a winner- and the match-winner, now a club legend, was found there. Aketch Okongo, all of 18 years old, came into the match in the 77th minute, and just 5 minutes later, in the 82nd minute, was wheeling away in celebration after slotting in a rebound from a shot that had hit the post. What a goal, what a game- and the celebrations from Phoenix fans were ecstatic. Back in the RBSA Cup Final. Could they win it?

RBSA Cup Final
Played at the Stadium of the Restoration(cap. 91,835) in Busukuma, National Capitol Region

Rukunbi FC 2–3 Herzegovina Phoenix

Both of these teams have one of these- so they've been here before. But in this Shango-Fogoa era of football, the opportunities to win major trophies are fewer and farther between than ever- so they've got to jump on these opportunities when they come about. What are the chances that none of Herzegovina City, Istria City, nor Jinja City- not to mention Busukuma AC or Hoima- all don't make the Quarterfinal again? Close to none. So for both these teams, this is about as easy as a path as possible- and neither want to let this opportunity go. Drake was allowed on the sideline for the Herzegovina Phoenix, in his last game before retirement- despite his red card on Matchday 38 of the league season.

Both teams wanted to get up and after it, and both felt as if they had more talent than the other. The Phoenix, of course, missed promotion by blowing it on the Final day of the BSL Season. And Rukunbi FC... Well, we will see where their season finishes. But this Cup match- forget the pain of a league season. All eyes are here. Janani Onango set a Cup Final record for the fastest goal- scoring just 27 seconds into the match to give the Phoenix a stunning, shock, 1-0 lead early on. The fans still getting in their seats, Rukunbi FC still trying to get their sea legs- and yet, the Phoenix with a stunning statement of intent, showcasing their ability to not only reach, but win, this Cup Final.

From the Phoenix, to Rukunbi Football Club. The S-FPL club was not going to take that lying down, were they? Both of these clubs are interesting. Both in Moravica, both overshadowed by much bigger clubs in their own city, who are archrivals- the Phoenix overshadowed by Herzegovina City FC, while Rukunbi FC, of course, plays second fiddle to Istria City FC. Hell- how many foreigners even realize Rukunbi is in Istria? But they both stand alone today, a chance to make a name for themselves- and Rukunbi wouldn't let that chance go to waste. The club captain, Lucilia Ogol, heading in a goal to make it 1-1 in the 34th minute. A captain's goal, a header for the center back. And then, the sensational- A stunning volley from their CM, Yelee Uster, to make it 2-1 in the 42nd minute. Rukunbi FC went into halftime with the lead, 2-1- would they be celebrating in the nation's capitol?

But the Herzegovina Phoenix, despite currently being a league below than Rukunbi FC, believe they are a bigger club than Rukunbi FC. "We've got more history, more success, despite being a much younger club than Istria's second club." Drake told reporters before the match. "We've got the dudes to compete at this level- despite just failing to achieve promotion, it's our chance to show that it's only a one year delay- this year, we're winning the Cup, and next year, we're going up." Going up, indeed. Saul Obama, the 38 year old captain, in his last ever match for the club, scoring the equalizer in the 62nd minute. And then, in the 79th minute- a screaming winner from 35 year old Tumushabe Namagoye, a winger off the bench.

The Phoenix would reign as league champions, and lift the trophy. A hell of a cup run for them. Some may say that they had an easy run, they didn't play their first S-FPL team until the semifinal. But they took care of business- much more than their biggest rivals, Herzegovina City FC, can say. And hey- they beat two teams in the S-FPL. There is plenty to say too, about next season- they might lead Banija in matches played. They've already qualified for the LBCT via the league, but now they will play both in the IFCF Cup Winner's Cup, as well as the Hui Ka, Arrosia's regional tournament. They may still be in the second tier- but things are certainly looking peachy in the Herzegovina suburbs.

by **Banija** » Thu Dec 19, 2024 11:04 am

Banija's Regional Soccer Leagues in the S-FPL Era- Year 18

The Royal Banijan Soccer Association(RBSA), in conjunction with the Busoga Islander Soccer Association(BISA). is proud to present the third tier of the soccer pyramid in both Banija and the Busoga Islands- the Regional League system. Remember, as of Year 10, The Northwestern League no longer exists, having been split into the Moravican State League, and the Busogan National League. They will join the Lower Coastal League, the Northern League, and the Southern League as the two nation's third tier now consists of 50 teams, spread across 5 leagues.

This will be the twenty-sixth season of full integration of the Regional League System into the Banijan soccer pyramid. Years 1-9 this served as the 2nd tier of the Banijan soccer pyramid, but now it is in its 17th season as the country's third tier with the formation of the Shango-Fogoa Premier League. There is no relegation as this is the final professional tier in the Banijan league system. Promotion happens on a national basis- separate promotion/relegation process for the Busogan teams, as the Banijan teams.

For the Banijan teams, the four regional champions will enter into a double round robin group stage against each other, played home and away(6 games). Winner goes up to the BSL(2nd tier), while the last placed Banijan side in the BSL is relegated to the regional leagues. The second place team will play against the second worst Banijan team in the BSL in the BSL Promotion Playoff, a one game playoff occurring at the Stadium of the Restoration.

Of course, the Corizova rule remains in place. The Corizova rule is this- any team that wins their regional league for three seasons in a row, earns automatic promotion to the BSL(without having to go through the Promotion Playoff), and the Promotion Playoff will only have 3 teams. However, that rule has never come into force.

On the Busogan side, they have their own set of rules. The champion is promoted, and if the worst finishing Busogan team in the BSL finishes 10th or worse, then that is automatic. If the worst finishing Busogan team is 9th or 8th, there is a one game playoff, hosted by the Busogan National League champion. If the worst finishing Busogan team in the BSL finishes 4th through 7th, the one game playoff is hosted by that very Busogan BSL side. If the worst finishing Busogan team is third or better(this would require for there to be at least one Busogan team in the S-FPL, and then the other Busogan teams entirely in the top 3 of the BSL0, then there is no pro/rel that season.

Of course, that's extremely unlikely considering how Busogan teams have generally performed since the beginning of the modern era. On the other hand, there could be multiple promotions/relegations. Any Busogan team that finishes in the bottom 5(18th or worse out of 22), must 'earn their place' in the league. So, for example, if only one team is 18th or worse- then they are automatically relegated. But what if, for example, three of the four Busogan teams in the BSL finish 18th or worse? Then the worst team is automatically relegated- but the other two would play in playoffs for their BSL slot. The second worst team would play the #2 team in the Busogan National League, while the third worst team would play the #3 team in the Busogan National League- those games, also one game playoffs, hosted by the National League sides.

You with us? Without further ado! The 50 regional league sides in Banija and the Busoga Islands!

Teams Promoted from last season out of the regional leagues
Nezrouch Rovers(Busogan National League winner)
AFC Kosactus(Moravican First Division winner, BSL Promotion Playoff Winner)

Teams relegated from BSL into the regional leagues this season
Serizar FC(finished in last place in the BSL)
Sororo City(Lowest finishing Banijan team, finished 21st out of 22 in the BSL)

Note: Both Banijan teams relegated from the BSL last season are playing outside their assigned regional league. Corizova United, in Moravica, will be playing in the Southern League, while the Luguyala Patriots, playing in Aksum, will join the Lower Coastal League.

Busogan National League
Consists only of teams from the Busoga Islands
1. Serizar Football Club. Location: Serizar, South Island, Busoga Islands. Color: Blue.