As the Abdian First Division begins its third season, ABKSportsonline.com has come up with its Abdian First Division Preview.
Transfers Out
Al Grieger to Isreliet Invictus, Southern Cynocephali from Upper Lalard
Walter Dukes to Roberval, Cotdelapoms from Giga Hurricanes
Giga Hurricanes was the first club commissioned to be built, and plays in ABK National Stadium, in Giga, also home to the ABK National Team. They finished 2nd last year, improving substantially.
Coach:Steven McDonald, age 45
Stadium:ABK National Stadium, 80,000 Attendance, Grass Surface, Picture
Captain: Jeremiah Church
Starters: Handsman, Van Zant, Sanuli, Thompson, Tate, Duran, Fox, Green, Garcia, Church, Brewer
Key Subs: Richardson (GK), Vasile (DF), Santana (DF), Laire (MD), Damon (FW)
Foreign Players: Handsman (Virabia), Van Zant (Taeshan), Sanuli (The Kiaser Colonies), Vasile (Antoletia)
Transfers: Transferred in Eric Handsman from Virabia to replace Dukes and added Hakebo Sanuli and Manuel Vasile from TKC and Antoletia to split time in the back.
Expectations: Compete for the Title
Swift Kings was the first team allowed to play in Swift, ABK's Capital. They came in fourth last year and went to the GLobe Cup.
Coach: Harold Cervantes, Age 33
Stadium: Swift Field, 80,000 Attendance, Grass Surface, Picture
Captain: Jonathan Ellefson
Starters: Strickland, Ionescu, Willis, Mojica, Morris, Grant, Crutcher, Heidera, McCracken, Garrets, Ellefson
Key Subs: Krum (GK), Turley (DF), Horn (MD), Hayes (FW)
Foreign Players: Ionescu (Antoletia), Heidera (Southern Cynocephali)
Transfers: Brought in Victor Ionescu to shore up the left fullback position.
Expectations: Mid-Tier
Kino Bullets plays in Kino, ABK's second largest city, and its largest port. They finished last year in 7th Place, improving one position.
Coach: Stefan Gore, Age 42
Stadium: Port Stadium, 75,000 Attendance, Grass Surface, Picture
Captain: Henry Ward
Starters: Harris, Zick, Riley, Ward, Joseph, Brown, Adams, Douglas, Bogart, Machucha, Conroy
Key Subs: Fox (GK), Pagav (DF), Anderson (MD), Constantinescu (FW)
Foreign Players: Constantinescu (Antoletia)
Transfers: Signed Filip Constantinescu to come on late in matches and tire out the defense.
Expectations: Mid-Tier
The Lalard Tanks are the last of the original four teams from ABK. They won the league for the second time last year.
Coach: Raymond Jacobs, Age 40
Stadium: ABK Railroad Stadium, 70,000 Attendance, Grass Surface, Picture
Captain: Wendell Minor
Starters: Datson, Miller, McLaughlin, COleman, Fraser, Nugent, Huemad, Minor, Kent, Nitrome, Church
Key Subs: Miller (GK), Hollins (DF), Green (MD), Beaubien (FW)
Foreign Players: Huemad (Civil Citizenry), Nitrome (Nitrome Island)
Transfers: None
Expectations: Compete For The Title
Swift City is the second team in Swift. They suffered a huge loss, finishing dead last a year after finishing 3rd.
Coach: George Henry, age 54
Stadium: Alley Park, 80,000 Attendance, Grass Surface Picture
Captain: Ringin Weso
Starters: Tesla, Abercrombie, Cedeno, Meusel, Illiescu, Metzvig, Baczevski, Schemer, Wright, Bullocks, Weso
Key Subs: Spivey (GK), Wiggins (DF), Schafer (MD), Mills (FW)
Foreign Players: Illiescu (Antoletia), Wright (Cotdelapoms), Weso (Erathore)
Transfers: Brought in Illiescu to start in the back and to hopefully return their defense to its 2011 state.
Expectations: Cellar-Dweller
Swift FC is the third team in Swift. They finished in a disappointing 10th last year.
Coach: Lovie Gordon, age 38
Stadium: Manson Park, 55,000 Attendance, Grass Surface, Picture
Captain: Emmanuel Richer
Starters: Tworek, Guida, Berbaso, Lance, Pelletier, Richer, Radosevich, Strobel, Ruth, Vincent, Walters
Key Subs: Moffit (GK), Brodlan (DF), Fenderson (MD), Thiede (FW)
Foreign Players: Berbaso (Erathore), Lance (Cotdelapoms), Pelletier (Cotdelapoms), Richer (Cotdelapoms)
Transfers: None
Expectations: Cellar-Dweller
Downtown Giga finished 5th last last year, and has the smallest budget of all the teams in the First Division.
Coach: Jimmy Cuomo, age 53
Stadium: Downtown Stadium, 60,000 attendance, Grass surface Picture
Captain: Lynwood Gazo
Starters: Gazo, Desautelle, Baumfalk, Dusak, Ghanayem, Meyers, Lameda, Edwards, Uloikar, Chretien, Alvez
Key Subs: Kasubo (GK), Katterjohn (DF), Adelizzi (MD), Alhadey (FW)
Foreign Players: Edwards (Queer Poco El Mono Ara), Chretien (Southern Cynocephali), Alvez (The Kiaser Colonies)
Transfers: None
Expectations: Mid-Tier
Transport Swift is the fourth team located in Swift. It is located near Swift International Airport, which gives the club its name. They dropped to 9th last year, and are looking to improve.
Coach: Arnold Nicholas, age 44
Stadium: International Park, 65,000 attendance, Grass surface, Picture
Captain: Oleg Bolyachin
Starters: Hase, Groat, Hoss, Alexandre, Fortes, Wickens, Hellard, Bolyachin, Kuzinac, Geiser, Hites
Key Subs: Dahle (GK), Bloodshaw (DF), Taylor (MD), Cord (FW)
Foreign Players: Alexandre (Antoletia), Bolyachin (Chetkosk), Kuzinac (Chetkosk)
Transfers: Brought in Hans Alexande from Antoletia to start at sweeper.
Expectations: Cellar-Dweller
Market FC is located in the business district of Swift. They have the biggest budget of all the Abdian teams. They finished a disappointing 3rd, when many picked them to win it all
Coach: George Willy, age 65
Stadium: Air ABK Stadium, 50,000 Attendance, Grass Surface Picture
Captain: Eugenio Helidoro
Starters: Vezey, Derocco, Fester, Holt, Loeb, Patete, Heliodoro, Huberdeau, Sherwood, Locks, Hedgepeth
Key Subs: Lil (GK), Himmel (DF), Rodak (MD), Varicuella (FW)
Foreign Players: Derocco (Starblaydia), Holt (Queer Poco El Mono Ara), Loeb (Starblaydia), Heliodoro (Erathore), Huberdeau (Mytannion), Sherwood (Mytannion)
Transfers: None
Expectations: Compete For The Title
Bay FC, the 2nd team in Kino, plays its games right next to the Bay. The stunning views are sometimes counterbalanced by terrible storms and strong winds that blow out from over the sea. They finished 6th last season, after winning the Abdian Cup.
Coach: Jacob Lerner, age 47
Stadium: Bay Stadium, 55,000 Attendance, Grass Surface, Picture
Captain: Martin Buccellavo
Starters: Giroux, Melden, Buccellavo, Scovel, Segar, Desbiens, Duke, Wallenberg, Defasco, Pavleic, Guzman
Key Subs: Sumbry (GK), Ream (DF), Byham (MD), Suttie (FW)
Foreign Players: Giroux (Cotdelapoms), Desbiens (Cotdelapoms), Wallenberg (Hakkland)
Transfers: None
Expectations: Mid-Tier
Upper Lalard is the second team in Lalard. They are located on the outskirts of Lalard. They dropped to 11th last year, a year after almost making it to international competition.
Coach: Jimmy Davidson, age 40
Stadium: Jones Field, 45,000 Attendance, Grass Surface, Picture
Captain: Mack Agostino
Starters: Rogers, Nixon, Joachim, Recendez, Fassel, Monteniso, Agostino, Theriot, Cappola, Cameron, Gomer
Key Subs: Cracciolo (GK), Wildt (DF), Regnier (MD), Boger (FW)
Foreign Players: Rogers (Chenkorya), Joachim (Southern Cynocephali), Cameron (Taeshan), Gomer (Zarbli)
Transfers: Lourent Rogers was signed to play goalkeeper and to shore up the defense.
Expectations: Cellar-Dweller
Upper Swift is the sixth and final team in Swift. They play in the Upper Swift district. They finished 8th last year, a 3 spot improvement over 2011.
Coach: Jack Oswald, age 65
Stadium: Potent Stadium, 40,000 Attendance, Grass Surface, Picture
Captain: Russell Olivencia
Starters: Duford, Horn, Barretson, Whidi, Silfies, Koenig, Zucicho, Olivencia, Panzarino, St. James, Esquire
Key Subs: Shinkle (GK), Miller (DF), Nicolai (MD), Appel (FW)
Foreign Players: St. James (Taeshan), Esquire (Taeshan)
Transfers: None
Expectations: Mid-Tier
Our Prediction to Win: Lalard Tanks