Shrevashal Football Association

[Shrevashal]

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Shrevashal Ministry to Develop Sporting Knowledge, Infrastructure in Promotion of Football
by Mara Stetende

Shrevashal: The Minister for Sport in Shrevashal announced today that a small portion of the ministry budget would be allocated to "the development and promotion of football as a sport among the Shrevashalu". Minister Ahal Statri stated "the other nation states known to the Shrevasal play this sport, and not only will participation in football increase the health and welfare of our people but will serve to strengthen ties with other states and to increase tourism to our fair land".

One challenge for the minister is that not only is football not a sport native to Shrevashal but there are no competitive sports leagues in the country - certainly none that play for money or have any sort of facilities, coaches, or specialization in what is called "professional athletics". When asked why some other sport was not selected, Statri stated that "football is the language of the nations - we cannot be so arrogant to demand that other nations accept our preferences and at some level we must give way to theirs."

One news writer challenged the minister, asking if interest in football could be maintained as an international team would have to start from the very bottom. "We have no pitches, no teams, no infrastructure, no media dedicated to sport, no specialist trainers, none of the sort. In such games, would we not be condemned to defeat?" Statri responded that the first few years would be "horrible" but "I have faith in the people of Shrevashal that they can succeed against the peoples of any nations. Given time and practice, the Government believes that good results would come from the effort and provide role models for the youth."

Football is an outdoor game where eleven players from each team attempt to move a ball into a net. Generally, the players may not touch the ball, only kick it to one another. Games tend to be low scoring affairs but the excitement comes from the attempt to score, and the players run great distances and exert themselves to their maximum effort - the scoring of a point or "goal" breaks the tension. Only one point is scored for each goal, and the team with the most goals at the end wins. Ties, however, are permissible.

The Ministry will begin by seeking players between the ages of 18 and 30. Each player will be given a fitness test to determine their generalized ability. These players shall be played a small government stipend to supplement their normal salaries.

In addition, the Ministry announced a timetable for the following events.

* construction of a "pitch" or playing field
* construction of seating for spectators
* the hiring of technical staff, with the possible hiring of non-Shrevashal who have experience in the training or teaching of football.
* the hiring of two ministry staff, one of whom shall be known as the Director of Football and the other as the Director of Football Media.

OTHER NEWS:
Shrevashalu Guard faces charges in shooting of three men
Three rescued from water after private ship crash
Migrants fight Ministry of Health ruling

[Shrevashal]

New Players Flock to Football Ministry Call
by Mara Stetende

Shrevashal: As the new state budget was passed, Minister for Sport Ahal Statri had set a timetable for the development of football in our nation. His best-case scenario was that he could start play with a four-team league but it appears that eight teams will being playing volunteers as the number of prospective players surprised the ministry.

“I’ve always wanted to play offball – no, football,” Arta Laidu said as he waited at the ministry office with over 100 citizens making an application. “Well, to be truthful, the stipend is why I’m here.” The young man hoped to receive a supplement to his salary if he was named a football player.

But Laidu couldn’t count his Twis yet. He, along with the other men and women in line, would have to undergo a fitness test which consisted of running, leaping, and various communication exercises. All prospective players had to be able to kick a football with some distance and accuracy. It was a particularly fit group of competitors and not a single player was excluded from participation.

Laidu smiled as he waived his stipend scrip. “When work comes, I know where I’ll be. The game has a lot of running. Hopefully not too much. There’s a fellow – the keeper? – I don’t think he runs too much and perhaps I could do that job.”

Each future team will be assigned 17 players – eleven players on the field and six players who may substitute but are not expected to play. If a substitute is removed from the game, the beginning player cannot return to the field. As football is a taxing sport, the expectation is that everyone will be able to compete.

“I can’t tell our new athletes where they’ll be playing yet, as there is currently no place to play.” He is hoping to find a volunteer set of coaches to perform in the first season. His timeline had four hypothetical teams: the Greens, Reds, Blues, and Yellows, each named after the color of jerseys they would wear.

“I suppose there will have to be a ‘Whites’ team but we are running out of colors,” Statri said. “Perhaps we will leave the naming up to the players or to the communities.”

Priestess Fadu Karakiku watched the training sessions from the sidelines. “I find this sport very nice, lots of running and exertion with fine, sexually attractive young men and women.” Her Blessedness provided a benediction for the players after the game, marking each participant with paint and expressing wishes that their new undertaking would be successful.

Minister Statri stated that no progress had been made on a new Director of Football or Director of Football Media. No progress on a pitch has been made and initial practices will take place at the Triumph Wrestle-Ball Arena located in district Haidu. Locations and times will be disseminated in state media.

OTHER NEWS:
Concern over increasing number of non-Shrevashalu doctors in health service
Mining of radioactive metals begins under watchful eyes of environmentalists
Students undertake first temple visit in moving ceremony

[Shrevashal]

Director of Football Named as Interest in Association Football Surges
by Mara Stetende

A saying among the Shrevashalu is “The best parts of the books are read the most quickly.” This saying in also applied to current events, sometimes slow and then a flurry of activity. In which case, Ratee Landee, the new Director of Football, has arrived at the right time.

“I am pleased to take on this new position and I hope that I can return the faith that the Minister for Sport has in me,” Landee said. “Clearly, there is a lot that needs to be done. An infrastructure for football must be built first, and above all we must find locations to play. One cannot play football on an architect’s draft.”

Yet as he announced the plans for the first pitch to be built by the GRS (Goddess Republic of the Shrevas) at the old Liberty Stadium, the supporting characters of whatever book will be written about Shrevashalu football were taking manners into their own hands.

Eight teams have been formed so far. Five of these teams will be in Sanah Ibek: the Greens, Whites, Blues, Yellows, and a team known as Sanah Ibek FC (the FC standing for “Football Club”, an abbreviation often used by other nations as a differentiation).

Sources indicate that the mayor’s office in Thepos was not happy that the scope of football was going to be limited to the city of Sanah Ibek. The Theposians demanded a ‘first four’ squadron and the Reds team will now play its games there. The city of Arcandu will host the new “Pilots” team and Masa Dara will host the “Saints FC” eleven.

“Why Saints FC?” We asked Saints FC player Tana La-Herdia what she thought about the matter. “We wanted a name that sounded like the other names, and we wanted the Goddess to bless our efforts on the pitch – but to name a team after the Goddess sounded somewhat blasphemous. Thus, we are The Saints.”

La-Herdia, a future “midfielder”, stated that she was not the “gaffer” of Saints FC. “Leader? We don’t have one yet. I don’t think it should be one of us.”

Other clubs, such as the Greens and Yellows, already have player-coaches. The Reds have the only coach who is not a player, Commander Para Rojesu. “There is something vaguely military about the sport and I thought I’d lend my expertise to it.”

“I don’t know what Is exactly military about it,” Ikan Sout, a Reds team “forward” said, “but I’ve run more doing this than I’ve run in my life!”

(* * *)

Whether it was the action of Minister for Sport Ahal Statri to divert a portion of the common wealth to football, or whether it was the award of a stipend, or even the naming of teams that sparked an interest in football shall remain a mystery. The spark is now in danger of burning into a fire.

“Football” is becoming a fad, a trend, a fashion among the Shrevashalu. To have a football “kit” is the new mark of style with kits belonging to foreign clubs Rosetta Riot or Shamrock Cathair undoubtedly making their first appearances in the avenues of Sanah Ibek among young women and men. Young people who cannot have a Greens football kit – the only such kits in existence are the ones the players themselves wear – make their own kits. At best a dozen footballs – round white and black balls – would be sold a year in Sanah Ibek but mysteriously, dozens of strange yellow-colored footballs have shown up (from where is a mystery) and young people are bouncing and kicking the balls off every surface and making up their own rules.

The broadcasts from football matches from other nations have become very popular and despite the elementary steps the game as taken in the GRS, the demand has outstripped the supply. One hundred young men and women protested outside the Ministry of Sport, demanding that the number of teams exceed eight.

Director Landee’s job is to lower the heat. “Unfortunately, the government can support only eight teams. There is a chance that we would expand to beyond eight teams, but I have made it clear that any teams beyond the eighth shall receive no stipend.” Even so, sources claim that some of the teams in the new league shall be “semi-professional” and “amateur”. The difference between the two terms is that between being paid a stipend for participation and paying Twis out of one’s own pocket for the privilege of competing.


OTHER NEWS:
Religious Court declines petition from anti-drug priestesses
More Twis in purses: tourism up among Shrevashalu
Housing crunch in Sanah Ibek means move to the outlands for impoverished residents

[Shrevashal]

Greens Supporters Song

“The One True Club”

When I was young (CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP)
I asked my mum (CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP)
"Which club should I giiiiiiive my-heart-and-soul?"
“There is a club” (CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP)
“The Nation’s club” (CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP)
“And it is called the One True Club!”

“The banners green” (CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP)
“Are widely seen” (CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP)
“And each player iiiiiiis the-nation’s-pride”
“They’ll heed the call” (CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP)
“They will not fall” (CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP)
“For every voice calls out their names!”

FOR THE ONE TRUE CLUB, we give our heart and soul
Like the flag of the Republic we will raise its banner high
Though the wind be in our faces, there is no doubt in our hearts
That we are loyal to the One True Club.

[Shrevashal]

Football Season Begins to Fall into Place as Schedule Announced
by Mara Stetende

Shrevashal: A new sport - association football - will be seen for the first time in Shrevashal as Director of Football Ratee Landee announced details to a select group of reporters in Sanah Ibek.

New Football Media Director Kees Raneya provided information regarding the new 33-game season, where each of 11 teams will play each other three times in a season. Victories of one team over another are worth three points, and losses are worth zero points. Games take place over a 90 minute period interrupted with a break at 45 minutes. If two teams are tied each team is awarded one point. The team with the most points at the end of the season is declared the winner.

The twelve teams will play in the new National Football Arena in Sanah Ibek which will seat over 20,000 spectators and should be completed before the first game. Eight teams will be "semi-professional" with the players from those teams playing with a government stipend and four teams will be "amateur" in that they shall not be provided any supplementary money. Even though all teams will play in Sanah Ibek, the head-quarters of a team may be located in another city. Landee confirmed rumors that a suitable pitch is being constructed in Thepos, which will host three of the teams in the new league.

The new teams are:

Semi-professional teams

Greens, hosted in Sanah Ibek. Manager is player Ludo Sadu. Kit color is green.
Reds, hosted in Theops. Manager is Commander Para Rojesu. Kit color is red.
Whites, hosted in Sanah Ibek. No player or person has been named as manager. Kit color is white.
Blues, hosted in Sanah Ibek. Manager is player Cona Medor. Kit color is blue.
Yellows, hosted in Sanah Ibek. Manager is player Aleta Malloroke. Kit color is white.
Pilots, hosted in Arcandu. Manager is player Stavay Gondora. Kits are two colors, black and red.
Saints FC (Football Club), hosted in Masa Daru. Manager is player Parise Denar. Kits are two colors, red and white.
Sanah Ibek FC, hosted in Sanah Ibek. No player or person has been named as manager. Kit color is light tan.

Amateur teams

Army FC, hosted in Thepos. This club is limited to military personnel. Manager is Commander Ulsa Huydmara. Kit colors are green, red, and Shrevashal gold.
Old Print Shop FC, hosted in Sanah Ibek. This club is hosted by a private brewery in Sanah Ibek. Manager is Tilu Solisar, a player. Kit colors are white, black and gold.
Master Pharmacology FC, hosted in Arcandu. This club is limited to members of Pharmcology Service Sector, Factory #57. Kit colors are white and gold.
Thepos Pier Construction FC, hosted in Thepos. This club is limited to stevedores, longshore workers, operators, and others working at the Thepos Piers. Kit colors are silver, blue, and white.

The goal will to be to have a pitch for each of these twelve teams. Each team now has an official roster and there is confidence that each of the amateur teams has the financial security to complete the season.

Raneya was asked by the media if there were any remaining concerns. Among those learned during the questions:

* There is currently a shortfall of referees. "This is a new sport, and even the players don't quite know how to play it. It is a fast course in learning. Other nations have in the past used a system with one referee and a player chosen from each of the two teams, with the referee serving as tiebreaker. Our hope is that any team such afflicted can be good sports and not let the competitive spirit overwhelm them."

* With the Firearms Confiscation beginning across the nation, some fans are donating their buyback stipends to the various clubs. Others are petitioning the government to sell "firearms for footballs" - the play would be to sell other nations the confiscated weaponry in exchange for football equipment.

* The ministry has reached out to the organization of football for Anaia, CAPA, not only for the benefits of competition but for assistance in organization and planning. "We won't be able to compete right away," Raneya said. "We see that happening at some point thought, but we are only in the earliest stages of our application."

OTHER NEWS

* Firearms agreement to establish registry of gun owners
* Legal amnesty assured for illegal firearms return
* Tough questions about racial unity set aside by PPR spokesperson

[Shrevashal]

Reds Supporters Song

"North Star" (*)

North Star, North Star,
Flying high above my head
With your kit of brilliant red
North Star, North Star
Shining with a twinkling glow
Let us score another goal
North Star, North Star

Sung to the tune of Peppa Pig's, "North Star". The club refers to the "north star" as the club is located in Thepos, the northernmost large city in Shrevashal.

[Shrevashal]

The Road to Football Goes Through Thepos
By Depari Savosh

(Note: all match results calculated by xkoronate.)

There is a joke among the Shrevashalu: “Do we have a government? Yes and no. Do we have a religion? Yes and no. Can you get a straight answer? Yes and no.” The same could be asked of organized sport. “Did we have organized sport before football came along?”

Yes and no.

Among the Shrevashal the worst thing to say is that someone has a “slaver mentality”. The phrase is popped out when experiencing any discourtesy from some lout, but it is something in the national character, something we live and die by. When causal sports developed into communal sporting organizations over a hundred years ago, there was a real fear both among the government and the clergy that the competitive aspect of sports (paid sports were unheard of) would rip the social fabric of the state apart.

Strict rules were placed upon public sports. Namely, that sports emphasize beauty, gracefulness, cooperation – and that no score of any sort be calculated nor any type of trophy given. There were large audiences, even gambling (for those sports like wrestleball where goals could clearly be tallied) but the greatest champions were honored at best in the abstract. A few crazy people attempt to measure past champions against recent ones by resurrecting dusty recounts of past contests, but it is a task best meant for philosophers.

The government is now taking tentative steps to reach out to the other nations and football is to be the new lingua franca. “Perhaps a little competition won’t hurt,” they think. “And we’ll have something to talk about when visitors show up.”

But sport, in any of its forms, changes the people who play it and watch it. Sports is not like a movie or a play or a book, with its fixed positions and terminations. It is unpredictable, which is the draw. The story is being made up before your eyes, various plots are discarded, champions falls and challengers rise. Or, champions remain champions and challengers must eat sand as they have before. The viewer is left to draw their own conclusions.

(* * *)
Thepos is the second city of Shrevashal, off in the north…somewhere. The Theposians have always been a people apart from those in Sanah Ibek. They are Kanagites as opposed to the Ibekare of Sanah Ibek. The temperatures are colder in Thepos, the seas more treacherous, they are a people known for being “unsocial” that keep to themselves. The joke is that if you ask a Theposian what they think of you, they answer, “I didn’t think of you at all.” But one detects a bit of jealously, and there is another joke among the Ibekare. Thepos is the Second City, “Second in size, second in stature, and second in everything.”

When football showed up, the Theposians turned their noses up at it – “an Ibekare game” – and only joined in earnest when it seemed that Sanah Ibek would dominate this future national sport otherwise. They demanded that one of the “color squads” be assigned to them and they were assigned one of the two national colors, red. They figured that they’d better put a good fight of some type. Reds would be the only semi-professional team and two amateur teams were quickly assembled to make sure that the interests of the North were represented.

When Reds was assembled in the hated Sanah Ibek, Commander Para Rojesu volunteered his services as coach. “All I know,” he said, “is strategy” and he began making observations on football games from overseas broadcasts. “I believe in a set-piece game,” Rojesu said. “A fluid game has too much to learn for a beginner. If Reds can only do five things, I want those things done perfectly. Better to do one thing brilliantly than five things decently.”

The Reds game depends on balance. Players evenly spaced, an avoidance of man-to-man, exemplified by the balance of the 4-4-2 position. Each player is given a list on a card at the beginning of the game of their game duties. But there is no strictness. “I expect every player to do as circumstances dictate. There should be good communication but an avoidance of clustering. No mindless running about like the other teams in the league. If you don’t know what you’re doing? Then there is a problem. A lot of teams have no clue about this game, but we will not go in unprepared.”

How much more does he know about football than the players he commands? “Very little,” Rojesu said. “But I know how to make decisions, and I know how to have my orders followed. There’s no boss of me. I am the boss. I will consider other opinions, but the decision is mine.”

(* * *)

All games take place at the same stadium at the same day, the National Football Arena at Sanah Ibek. When Reds-Pilots opened the season it was the final match to be played that day, late in the evening. An ominous wind turned the red banners around the stadium into streamers.

Rojesu told his players, “That’s a northern wind! The Goddess is on our side!”

Perhaps literally. In the 10th minute and on the Pilots side of the pitch, they threatened to score their first goal. Forward Oshel Chardu looked to pass from one side of the Pilots penalty box to the other in a vain attempt to escape two Pilot defenders but the wind caused his kick to curve and land near the penalty spot, take one bounce, and land in the upper corner of the net to the consternation of the White keeper. 1-0 Reds, and neither team could get control over the weather. Reds escaped 2-1.

But Reds were on to something. The next game against Yellows was the first game of the day and in the first half they scored four goals, with Shari Madisol scoring the first ever “hat trick” in Shrevashal history as they finished Yellows 5-1 to take their second win of the season. The joke is that every Theposian who showed up to watch the game – as a joke, as something to do while visiting Sanah Ibek, perhaps even mildly interested – contacted their friends about it immediately.

Shari Madisol was transformed from no-one to local hero. “No one even cared that I was playing football at all,” she said, “and then I get calls and texts – ‘I heard you smashed the Ibekare in their own stadium!’ It wasn’t me alone, you know, but everyone wanted to know more.” On social media, what little video there was of the game – the games were not nationally broadcasted – exploded.

The third game of the season put Reds against Saints FC out of Masa Daru. It looked like the Saints would frustrate the Reds. “We were camera shy, all the attention, we couldn’t get into our rhythm,” Madisol said. Reds went up 1-0 on a shot up the middle after 10 minutes but looked clearly frustrated. “We thought we were going to ruin football in Thepos and the Saints were looking for their first win.

Rojesu had a new set of index cards waiting for the players. “Stop trying to make things happen and let them happen. Do what you’re good at, stop playing to the crowd.”

The players listened. The Reds went up 2-0 on a rebounded shot at the 65th minute, then an own goal from the hapless Saints put Reds up 3-0 in the 73th minute.

“That own goal, you could watch Saints crumble right there.” Marisol didn’t get another hat trick but she scored two goals in the remaining minutes of the game and the Reds swept the Saints off the pitch with a 6-0 rout. Three games, 13 goals scored. Madisol led the league with five goals, outscoring every single team in the league over three games except Pilots and Greens.

(* * *)

By fate, the red color of the Reds aligns with the colors of the Permanent Party of the Revolution. By fate again, the PPR have a stronghold in Thepos, the only urban stronghold among what has traditionally been a rural party. And therefore, one set of Reds aligns with another set of Reds.

After the success of the football Reds, the political Reds in Thepos now want their own football pitch, and they’re going to pay real money for one. “There’s always a need for infrastructure,” Mayor Dari Hu’ul-Mastin of Thepos said. “Infrastructure means jobs, and a football pitch will provide jobs and strong community building. We have three teams and why should those teams play in Sanah Ibek? The Reds should be playing at home where their sporting accomplishments can be fully appreciated.”

Suddenly, Thepos might not be the Second City anymore.

Theposian sporting dominance? Could such a thing exist? Theposians being First in Football? It’s hard to say if football will establish deep roots in Shrevashalu culture, but the northerners have taken to the game fiercely. After three games, the north must be conquered before any club can call itself champions.

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                           3    3   0   0    13    2  +11     9
 2  (Whites)                         3    3   0   0     4    1   +3     9
 3  (Army FC)                        3    2   1   0     3    1   +2     7
 4  (Old Print Shop FC)              3    1   2   0     4    3   +1     5
 5  (Greens)                         3    1   1   1     6    4   +2     4
 6  (Pilots)                         3    1   1   1     5    5    0     4
 7  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)    3    1   1   1     4    6   −2     4
 8  (Master Pharmacology FC)         3    1   0   2     3    4   −1     3
 9  (Saints FC)                      3    0   2   1     2    8   −6     2
10  (Blues)                          3    0   1   2     0    2   −2     1
11  (Yellows)                        3    0   1   2     1    6   −5     1
12  (Sanah Ibek FC)                  3    0   0   3     4    7   −3     0

OTHER NEWS
“The dead own nothing”: Religious court decides in favor of enforced organ donation.
“I’ll bury myself at sea!” Anti-donation radicals call for extreme measures.
Human trafficking a concern with increased Shrevashal tourism

[Shrevashal]

(Note: all match results calculated by xkoronate.)

Amateur Football Wants Inside SFA's Closed Shop
by Tors Pareven

They’ve heard the complaints from their parents before. There’s nothing more antisocial for young people to be looking at their telephones and not talking to each other. If you asked these group of athletes from Thepos why they were so engrossed, they’d explain it.

Are they updating the results of Reds-Whites, a match between two undefeated squads, a classic Thepos-versus-Sanah Ibek struggle? When Whites brought down the mighty Reds 2-1 with two early goals by Benar Spinsar there was at best … some disappointment? It wasn’t the game upon which they were so intently focused.

Instead, they are focused on Blues versus the Old Print Shop – and not because they have an appreciation for the non-government beers and drinking songs that Old Print Shop offers. Only when Benar Shutta scored four minutes in for the Bottlers did the group snap from their dopamine induced ritual.

“That’s it!” one cried. “That’s the game.”

“I’ll bet you two Twi that this ends 1-0,” another said. “F___ing Blues. You can’t just park the bus all game. What kind of football are they playing in Sanah Ibek?”

“That team was a government deal!” another responded. “What, one goal in six games! I can score one goal in six games! That’s not football, that’s a government committee, just sitting there at the end of the pitch.”

“Hogging up space,” another says. “For a better team.”

There it is. There young people are members of Majestic Football Club, a new squad that has formed in Thepos. Their goal – to reach the SFL with their club and play against the current twelve clubs.

“Other nations have relegation,” club speaker Ente Wolor said. “It’s the concept of the most poorly performing club being removed from competition and replaced by a better side. The issue is that there is no second league.”

“The Blues players?” Majestic fan Spiral Gain-Coron said? “It’s bad enough that they can’t play football, what’s worse is that they’re receiving a fat government stipend for not playing football. Why should the fans be subjected to their poor performances, week in and week out? Give me a stipend for sitting on my ass for 90 minutes, I’d love that.”

Media director Kees Raneya responded. “I think the Ministry of Football knows what relegation is. It was one of the ideas that appealed to the Ministry of Sport – the idea that eleven ordinary people could become champions. The zeal of these amateur teams is refreshing, but Shrevashal football is in its infancy. An infant must be protected from chaos if it is to grow strong and walk on its feet.”

So, no relegation of the Blues then? “After six games? Madness. Even if the Blues finish dead last, there are no plans for relegation this season of any club. Let the clubs find their footing and then relegation will find its own timetable.”

Clubs like Majestic FC won’t wait. They are reaching out to other clubs in the nation. Friendly matches are being arranged. Play takes place on any flat surface (we heard the story of two clubs playing on a paved parking lot). There is talk of an amateur ‘cup’, a tournament of amateur clubs to determine the best. Having such a trophy would be a strong argument that a club belonged in the SFA as opposed to a poor performer.

The overworked staff of the Ministry of Football is trying to hear all concerns. “We’ve opened a national registry of teams. We’re asking for information on any group of athletes that call themselves a football club. A central database would be quite useful.”

“We already have a database,” Majestic player Cita Homara said. “Gov is one step behind. We’ll share our information with the government, but we’ll be part of organized football one way or another.”

“The best thing a fan can do,” Ente Wolor said, “is to petition the government to allow taxes to be diverted to sport. We pay most our income to the government anyway, the new laws have been passed allowing citizens to choose where our money should be spent. We should be allowed to make specific bequests.”

AROUND THE LEAGUE

If there’s any club that found success off the pitch, it’s Old Print Shop FC. Old Print Shop was one of the last private businesses in Shrevashal, a producer of beer. The director of the business created the club so that customers and fans of independently produced beer could come together and enjoy sport.

The club is more successful than the business. Ten days ago, the Old Print Shop lost its business license. Rather than close the brewery, the directors allowed the government to swallow it up.

Kalin Shrevas, a longtime patron of the brewer and the club, said “The gov can change the brewery's name, but to the fans it will always be the Old Print Shop.”

Unlike other clubs whose fans are devoted to vicariously living through athletic triumphs, sport for fans of the “Bottles” has always been a social event. “Drinking, drinking, and then more drinking,” Shrevas said. “Perhaps too much drinking. But football as well!”

The club sits in the middle of the table but you wouldn’t guess that from the fans. The fans love singing about the club, their love for the club, their love for social drinking and their devil-may-care attitude about the performance on the field. The most popular line of their anthem? “Win or lose, we have the booze, we’re the rooters from the Old Print Shop.”

An unexpected side benefit was the popularity of the checkered black and white kit worn by the Bottles. Five of the clubs in the league are named after colors – “the crayons” Bottles fans call them – and the kits of those clubs are essentially monochrome and lack flair. But young girls looking for a fashionable kit to wear to school have taken to the Bottles and their checkers. It is undoubtedly rebellious to choose a kit associated with a brewery as well.

Yeren Faszua, this media channel’s fashion reporter, agrees. “I find these football kits ghastly fashion disasters. This kit stands out, bold, dazzing to the eyes. One concubine I know obtained a kit – I don’t know how – and had it cut apart and turned the kit into underwear. She was a very fashionable fan, I hope her client appreciates the effort.”

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Whites)                         6    6   0   0    10    4   +6    18
 2  (Greens)                         6    4   1   1    22    8  +14    13
 3  (Reds)                           6    4   1   1    19    6  +13    13
 4  (Army FC)                        6    3   2   1    11    6   +5    11
 5  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)    6    3   2   1     9    9    0    11
 6  (Old Print Shop FC)              6    2   3   1     5    4   +1     9
 7  (Pilots)                         6    2   1   3     9   10   −1     7
 8  (Master Pharmacology FC)         6    2   0   4    12   18   −6     6
 9  (Sanah Ibek FC)                  6    1   1   4     9   14   −5     4
10  (Saints FC)                      6    0   4   2     5   12   −7     4
11  (Yellows)                        6    0   2   4     3   17  −14     2
12  (Blues)                          6    0   1   5     1    7   −6     1

OTHER NEWS

Allocation Bill passes: Shrevashal passes bill giving citizens voice in government budget
National Unity Party takes credit for popularity of Allocation Bill
Southern residents complain about government medical care

[Shrevashal]

(Note: all match results calculated by xkoronate.)

Football Radio Broadcast a Big Success as Reds and Greens Clash
by Mara Stetende


Radio sender K35 in Sanah Ibek attempted an experimental local broadcast this week of a highly anticipated football match between the Reds and Greens clubs, the first such broadcast over state radio. Manager Stavay Umas suspected that the game between both teams would draw a high number of listeners but even he was surprised at how popular the game turned out to be.

The 5-1 victory of Reds over Greens had a lot to offer: in attendance (sold out, of course), in fan interest (each club was well represented, and if not, the casual fan chose a side) and in the number of listeners across the country. Television viewing of news and light entertainment in the major cities dropped sharply, and the social media was flooded by match play descriptions and illicit video of the match.

"It was a busy day for state media monitors," Idra Partenu said. Partenu works for the Ministry of Media as a broadcast monitor. "We were scrubbing the video as fast as it could be posted. But text descriptions? We received no guidance from the Ministry."

Under strong sun and a light wind, Reds scored in the first two minutes off an oblique goal that wasn't so much kicked in as rolled in. Reds forwards Ikon Sout and Shari Madisol were in top form, and they ran the same set piece against Greens twice in the first half to devastating effect. The piece involved three players with two players breaking away from the side with either Sout or Madisol bringing up the middle. The lead runner of the two would kick to the midfield at the last moment and one or other other of Sout or Madison would go for the goal.

In the 22nd minute, it would be Sout's turn, and the effort worked as the Reds went up 2-0 and then a sleeping Greens defenseman lost the ball on the Greens re-possession, and two passes later Sout kicked from left of the penalty box to put Reds up 3-0. Running the same set play as earlier, it was Madisol's turn as she made the play work against the Greens at the 43rd minute to the shouting of the Reds fans in attendance. Two more goals were scored in the first two minutes of the second half, and Greens avoided being closed out, but Reds dominated from start to finish.

The two radio broadcasters had a set of impossible demands. The new National Arena is at best a pitch and wood seating and was never built for radio broadcasts in mind. The loud fans made hearing the descriptions of the action difficult. In addition, radio broadcast laws require civic announcements during certain intervals, and the second goal by Sout was almost obscured by a civic announcement. One announcer was encouraging local citizens to pick up litter while the second excitedly announced Sout's second goal of the game.

To train for the game, the two watched recorded Koronavian football matches. Rem Tomarse normally reads the news on the K35 channel, and he was pressed into duty as lead broadcaster. "Watching the Koronavaians, in the case of two broadcasters it seems that one states the events of the match and the other interjects with supporting information. Even though we don't speak the language, we understood the pattern."

Amateur football fan Hipara Lanin joined Tomarse to provide what is called "color" for the matches. "Our timing is a bit off. We can't speak at the same time, and I had to learn what Rem was doing. A crash course, really. He gave me some advice before the start, but I think we goofed a few times, most notably on that goal from Sout."

The audience was quite forgiving. Fans in Thepos were boosting their radio to attempt to pick up K35 and the Ministry of Media had to shut down attempts to directly rebroadcast the game. (The game will be rebroadcast at A82 Thepos this evening.) "We received messages from all across the country," Lanin said. "Almost all of them were supportive, although they accused me of being too partial to the Reds."

While comedians on Broadcast A made fun of the goofs the next day, it has not stopped the Ministry from planning more media broadcasts. Television, perhaps, in the future?

"We're not there yet," Football Director Ratee Landee said in an interview. "Let's not outrun our shoes."

AROUND THE LEAGUE

* Landee also announced that U18 leagues would be starting "soon". "We need to work out the infrastructure for youth football, and we're hoping that CAFA (Confederation of Anaian Football Associations) will help us with the technical details."
* Would Shrevashal be competing in CAFA? "Not right away," Landee said. "Every day we face new challenges and if we sent a team we couldn't hope for a good result."
* Landee stated that discussions of a possible expansion of the league were taking place. "The issue is the infrastructure. It's always the infrastructure. We have only one stadium that would pass for medium quality at best and certainly not CAFA quality. The financial situation of the clubs is undetermined. The players have jobs, they have competing personal and family interests and we do not want to overpromise. On the other hand, interest in football is high and the Ministry is receiving support from all quarters."
* The issue with referees has been resolved. "What we are hoping for," Landee said, "is a minimal level of competence. We might have to send our volunteers out of the country for proper training as - once again - no infrastructure." An obvious offside goal gave Master Pharmacology a 1-0 triumph over Old Print Shop the previous week, drawing criticism from fans and media.
* Blues have only scored one goal in the nine games that they have played. If any club is suffering this season, it is Blues.

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                           9    7   1   1    28    7  +21    22
 2  (Whites)                         9    7   1   1    13    7   +6    22
 3  (Old Print Shop FC)              9    4   3   2    10    6   +4    15
 4  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)    9    4   3   2    13   12   +1    15
 5  (Master Pharmacology FC)         9    5   0   4    20   22   −2    15
 6  (Greens)                         9    4   2   3    25   17   +8    14
 7  (Saints FC)                      9    3   4   2     8   12   −4    13
 8  (Pilots)                         9    3   2   4    15   15    0    11
 9  (Army FC)                        9    3   2   4    12   12    0    11
10  (Sanah Ibek FC)                  9    2   3   4    12   16   −4     9
11  (Yellows)                        9    0   2   7     5   25  −20     2
12  (Blues)                          9    0   1   8     1   11  −10     1

OTHER NEWS

* Guardsmen called in to seize illegal firearm from Sanah Ibek man.
* Oil prices to lose government price supports.
* Elemu to sing at state dinner for Serene Leader.

[Shrevashal]

Reds "Raid" Attempt Leads to Increased Scrutiny of Football Culture
by Mara Stetende

After the 12th Matchday, Artur Karin asked for a meeting with Ludo Sadu, his fellow player on the Greens football team. Sadu is the team's captain and is, in essence, the chief executive officer of the Greens. The Bossperson.

Karin told Sadu that he would be moving to Thepos, and therefore would have to resign his position as defender on the Greens. Sadu was very unhappy about this. "He made a commitment to the club, so I was quite unhappy as we are in third place in the table. I asked him if he could not put off this relocation until the end of the season, but he refused. I had no control over his life. I was quite unhappy about it but told him that I would let the team know. I was still quite mad about it, but what power did I have in keeping him from going?"

The next day, Artur Karin informed the Ministry of Football that he had joined Reds. Reds argument was that he received a government stipend to play for Greens; he could now receive that same stipend at a new address. There was no issue as far as Reds was concerned. On the contrary, it was Greens problem that they had lost one of the anchors of their defense.

And then the world exploded. At least, in football terms. Greens fans went off on "Arch-Traitor" Karin, called the Reds "raiders and slavers", and demanded that Football Director Ratee Landee put a stop to his transaction. "If the Reds club is allowed to poach players from the other clubs there will not be football in Shrevashal, there will be chaos."

Reds manager Commander Para Rojesu responded. "I have throughly read what the Ministry has provided. If the Greens club - if any club in the Association - can tell me where our actions are illegal, I shall return Karin to his previous club. I understand that other nations have "trades" and "transfer laws" and "loans" but that doesn't apply to this Association. Not yet. And as long as it does not apply, I don't see the issue. We are not a 'professional' league. Almost all of my players work for a living, and one lives with his mother. If a person wishes to change his circumstances, how am I opposed? Is this not the spirit of our nation?"

Other clubs were dragged into the tailspin. Old Print Shop fans demanded that future games against Reds be cancelled. Parim Nador, a rooter for Old Print Shop, said, "The ______ Reds ought to be ashamed of themselves. Karin was bought off! The league should investigate!"

Yellows manager Aleta Malloroke called for a "convention of clubs" to punish Reds by removing three points from Reds for their actions. Amateur club Storan FC in Sanah Ibek called for a media ban of Reds "as long as Karin plays for the club".

If the issue had remained with footballs and their mad rooters, it would have been bad enough. But Councilor Roshi Raneen of the First Council - a member of the National Unity Party with its green badges - made the incident a national political matter. He stated that "football is all well and fun, but we must make sure that the Shrevasalu culture is not damaged. Other nations would not allow such a thing, and we need to borrow their wisdom. I demand the Ministry of Sport take action."

Members of the PPR (Permanent Party of the Revolution) - with their red badges - had no comment. Only the radicals of the party like "Rose" Slivar brought any of the traditional vigor in their response, and their comments forced Reds football supporters among the PPR councillors to bristle.

"Football is a fine sport when it remains a sport," Slivar said, "but when it brings the unearned adulation, the wealth, the fan violence, the crudity, the hours of life wasted on such matters, the drunkenness, and the honoring of rules only to the last letter of the law and the murdering of the spirit of those very same rules, then this sport becomes a foreign pestilence and should be removed from the body spiritual of Shrevashal like killing a snake!"

Landee would be forced to act before others in power acted on his behalf. He nullified the movement of Karin to Reds, but stated that "given the circumstances, it is impossible to return him to his former club." What followed from Landee was a series of ad-hoc actions. Karin was assigned to Yellows, who agreed to take on the outcast. Reds received defenseman Pav Scaran from Yellows, who no longer had a place in the Yellows starting eleven with Karin's arrival. Greens received nothing, but the government stipends of the remaining players were proportionally increased as an adjustment for their loss and they would have the opportunity to make a replacement in the future.

As a response, other clubs began signing rudimentary contracts. As of this writing, the players of nine of the twelve clubs have signed petitions, "to play only for this club, and no other club for the duration of the season." "Frankly," manager Conor Medu of the Blues said, "the lack of guidance from the Ministry is disappointing. The players have to do it all themselves."

CAFA, the governing body of Anaia football, had no comment at this time.


AROUND THE LEAGUE

* Blues remain stuck at one goal after 12 games and surprising remain in 11th place on the strength of their defense. Bettors are taking odds on the circumstances when - or if - the Blues will score again.
* Ratee Landee states that "We hope to have, at the end of the year, a selection of a National Team for Shrevashal. Our facilities have been rapidly assembled and undoubtedly do not meet CAFA standards, but we will be willing to play road friendlies."
* Amateur club Majestic FC wants a stadium for amateur play and instead of building stands their idea is a raised earthwork on each side of the field. The club has asked university architects and local landscapers to pitch in for the effort.

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Whites)                        12    9   2   1    20    9  +11    29
 2  (Reds)                          12    8   2   2    32   10  +22    26
 3  (Greens)                        12    6   3   3    34   21  +13    21
 4  (Old Print Shop FC)             12    5   5   2    12    6   +6    20
 5  (Master Pharmacology FC)        12    6   1   5    24   28   −4    19
 6  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)   12    4   5   3    14   15   −1    17
 7  (Saints FC)                     12    4   5   3    15   17   −2    17
 8  (Army FC)                       12    4   3   5    15   14   +1    15
 9  (Pilots)                        12    4   3   5    16   18   −2    15
10  (Sanah Ibek FC)                 12    3   4   5    14   20   −6    13
11  (Blues)                         12    0   3   9     1   12  −11     3
12  (Yellows)                       12    0   2  10     7   34  −27     2

OTHER NEWS

* Guardsmen break up bicycle protest in Sanah Ibek - dozens arrested
* Survelliance equipment to read automobile ID numbers attacked in counter protest
* Minister for Education resigns: "my family needs me" - NUP councillors jockey for post

[Shrevashal]

The Country Under Foot: Blues Break Scoring Drought in 4-2 Loss to Greens
by Mara Stetende

When I arrived at my desk at the Sanah Ibek Report this morning, my Bossperson informed me that I had been granted a grand honor - the Report had found some loose Twis stuck in a box somewhere and informed me that I was now the Report's permanent reporter for football. "First in the country," they told me. "How many Twis?" I responded. The response from Bossperson didn't make it sound like an honor at all.

At least I could write about football full-time. And, in addition, I received space from which to spout my useless opinions. I was told to be "personal and nonobjective". Nonobjective? Well, there's no way that this could end poorly? Particularly as I was asked to write this column today and I am suddenly facing a deadline with no theme in mind. You want my opinion? I should write about "could you look for more Twis, please?"

What's on my mind? Yesterday Greens beat Blues...4-2. The goals from Luca Evanaras (both of them) were second half lost causes but in Matchday 15 of a 33-game season the Blues were able to find the net with mercy from their opponents. Money exchanged hands all over the capital in the biggest betting pool in years - "would the Blues ever score, and if so, when?" - exceeded only in size by the one which pays off when the PPR find the First Council seat again. (Or when Jalis Nanu finds her courage.) The Blues have only scored three goals all year and now rest comfortably at the bottom of the table, hopefully not to be seen again. The only thing that's been good about being a Blues fan is that there is no such thing as "relegation" in this first season, else the Blues would be relegated somewhere to the bottom of the ocean.

Of course, we have to realize that our players are amateurs. Talented amateurs. They played other sports before, and they play this brand new sport now - incompetently much of the time, but occasionally with the flashes of brilliance that belong to a natural athlete. It's good enough to satisfy an amateur crowd that likes to watch a ball roll across the pitch and it satisfied those who love watching men, women and thirds in tight fitting kits but this garbage won't play in Flavovespia or Audioslavia.

So all things being equal why do the Blues suck wind? Mathematicians talk about the Noll-Scully measure (short version: "if you get twelve people flipping coins, someone's gonna get a low number of heads") and politicians talk about heart and guts and things immaterial, as if nil points were a moral failure. It's not for a lack of trying, Blues has as much guts and will and hard work as any other team out there - they just don't win games. Incompetence? Okay, but at what exactly? What distinguishes Blues from say, Reds, which has now climbed back to the top of the table and is now playing in their newly built stadium, ready to host a rematch against second place Whites the match after next - a match which will be the first match broadcast on Shrevashal's national television?

I spoke a few months ago to Commander Para Rojesu, the man who commands the fortunes of Reds. When he decided to put his hand to the task and help out Thepos's future squad, he made some calls to other nations that had, well, played football. Which players on the pitch were the most important? Who should be moved where to the pitch, what kinds of players should he look for? If you, reader, had to choose 11 local athletes who had never played football before and assemble them to a top rank squad, what would you do?

"I focused on three positions," Rojesu said. "First, a goaltender. All of the great teams in CAFA have good keepers; it's rare to find a team that doesn't. It requires a good personality and we've been lucky in having Ner Jacol. Jacol has the memory of a hummingbird, the occasional lost ball doesn't upset him. He has the height to play the position, he has good instincts and I found him right away. If you have a good keeper you shouldn't finish at the bottom."

"Next, someone who can win possession battles in the middle. If you hold the ball longer, your chances to win increase. You can't win if you don't actually have the ball. Rorin Baransay in the middle is great at winning those possessions, he has a lot of endurance - probably more than anyone else on the team - and he can still fight when the other midfielders in the league are sucking wind. He doesn't like standing still."

"Finally, you need an accurate kicker. Preferably fast, but accurate. You have to make the most of your chances on the attack, and I'll pick quality over quantity. Other players should be afraid when you have the ball. Shari Madisol is the most cold-blooded player I've seen in the league and she's a deadly accurate kicker. She comes from a wrestleball background and they kick a bit in that sport. She would still be playing it if not for an injury, but their loss is our gain."

"I once asked her," Rojesu said, "I said, 'you're pretty bold, aren't you?' She said she liked football, 'the goal is a lot bigger and I don't have to drag three guys to it'."

What about the other positions, the wing, the defense? Rojesu grunted. "Cannon fodder. How many good players are in this league, anyway? I need good triers. In a few years, every position will be good. People playing now? They'd better enjoy this season, they wouldn't make a club five years from now when the children playing ball in the streets start joining the league. You'll see real football then."

I applied his rules to the Blues. Blues holds its opponents to 1.2 goals per game, but there are five other teams at least as good - the Bottlers have only given up nine goals in 15 games! Clearly nothing special. They have not had a single game this year where they held the majority of the possession, which says something about the midfield.

As for fear of strikers? When a team finishes as poorly as the Blues do, the threat of a breakaway is removed. Teams aren't terrorized by your offense, and assume that even if you do get the ball free? You'll screw it up somehow and the kick will end up somewhere outside the stadium. All an opponent has to do is wait you out to your inevitable mistake in defense. The Blues have attempted to plug this liability by the lamentable tactic of "parking the bus", but what is the point of parking the bus if you don't have a lead? Waiting for the Blues to grab a possession (never), wait for a break through (rarely) and then score at the opposite end? (never) That's like waiting for a bus that never comes.

Teams like Yellows and the Blues didn't fall to the bottom of the league because of math. They fell to the bottom because they don't get football. Football is organized chaos, and they don't recognize the elements of football that make a successful team. The evolution of this sport will be brutal, not just for the bottom feeders but for the champions as well. Every club is an infant, but some infants are more precocious than others.

(* * *)

All sorts of rumors float around but I don't know where they come from. In other nations, you could find dozens of people who are "in the know" but in Shrevashal? The people who really move this sport are at best a handful of people and they don't talk much. I believe that things happen because these who are in the know listen to these rumors, decided, "hey, that's a good idea" and then make it happen. The rumor-mongers then prize themselves for being insiders, like a cart claiming to draw a horse.

One thing I believe that will happen next season is the arrival of foreign players. Perhaps one player per team. Even the players from other nations that are second or third tier in their lands would be first-tier players here. Not much money, but payment in the nebulous "exposure".

But more likely: foreign gaffers. Gaffers who know how to build a team.

What I would like to see: foreign administrators. People who know how to run a league.

Next year: a very different league.

(* * *)

CAFA 5 will be starting soon. Shrevashal, late comers, shall not be participating. Perhaps in the next one although my understanding is that Shrevashal will participate to the fullest extent in that organization. A warning: visiting clubs might find that the luxurious stadiums, instant recognition, and "star treatment" is completely missing here. Their servants are paid more than a Shrevashalu footballer. The Shrevashal national team is not only an infant, but remains unborn. Our hope is that this infant starts walking and talking, and very soon.

Negotiations are being made to broadcast the CAFA Cup here. It will be worth seeing.

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                          15   11   2   2    45   13  +32    35
 2  (Whites)                        15   10   3   2    27   13  +14    33
 3  (Greens)                        15    7   5   3    40   25  +15    26
 4  (Pilots)                        15    7   3   5    27   21   +6    24
 5  (Old Print Shop FC)             15    6   6   3    15    9   +6    24
 6  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)   15    6   5   4    16   18   −2    23
 7  (Army FC)                       15    6   4   5    22   18   +4    22
 8  (Saints FC)                     15    5   5   5    19   25   −6    20
 9  (Master Pharmacology FC)        15    6   1   8    28   39  −11    19
10  (Sanah Ibek FC)                 15    3   5   7    17   27  −10    14
11  (Yellows)                       15    1   2  12     9   42  −33     5
12  (Blues)                         15    0   3  12     3   18  −15     3

OTHER NEWS

Nanu explains Shrevashal vote in World Assembly in speech to First Council
Journalists remain imprisoned overseas as Nanu takes hit in public opinion polls
Shrevashal economy makes slight recovery but indicators stay low
Nanu: claims economy recovers from "hiccups"
PPR: spokesman say that the poorest don't see rise in incomes

[Shrevashal]

OOC: Working on a new logo for the Shrevashal Football Association so this will have to do for now. More to post later, I'm just glad that I was able to put this together and wanted to show it off.

[Shrevashal]

Reds Roll Over Competition; Amateurs Found "Second League"
by Mara Stetende and Fidu Salanane

REDS PULLS UP WITH LEAD

As we pass the half-way point of the season, the Red North Star is shining bright:

* Reds approached Matchday 16 with a game against inter-city rival Thepos Pier at new Sora Rashishan Stadium in Thepos. The weather, however, decided not to cooperate and a heavy rain began to hit the pitch 30 minutes in. The pitch rapidly absorbed all the rainfall it could but there was more to come, and according to a Reds player, "it was like playing football on a pile full of wet socks." Thepos Pier could not put any kinds of attacks together and the center forwards of Reds's 4-4-2 found themselves frustrated, going into the half 0-0.

It seemed like Reds would be stymied and when Reds midfielder Deesha Kartme picked up her second yellow card in the 69th minute that the Wrenches had a chance to steal at least a point. However, midfielder Rorin Baransay saved it with an ankle-biting low rolling goal in the middle of a traffic jam at the 80th minute that pulled Reds ahead for good, 1-0.

* In the first nationally televised football game in Shrevashal history, Reds defeated Whites 4-0 in front of a massive crowd at Sora Rashishan Stadium despite cold weather with four different Reds players scoring goals. The victory was a revenge for Reds loss to Whites at Sanah Ibek early in the season. Leading 1-0 in the first half, Reds switched their "even distribution" strategy and began to fight every one of Whites's defensive transitions, a new tactic for Reds that Whites had no answer for. Reds controlled the ball most of the second half and scored the last three goals of the game in the last 15 minutes. The words "shadow game" were coined, but I suspect other nations have a name for this tactic.

* Reds would then face their other city rival, Army FC with two military coaches taking each other in a battle for bragging rights. Each team must have been given the orders to not take prisoners, and the game turned physical as the referees sat on their hands with Reds taking things into their own hands with some tackles that would caused yellow cards to be passed out like candy if the referees were competent. Despite some deft passing from Army to break up Reds's shadow-game tactics, it was Reds that broke through in the 57th minute when Army goalkeep Arkla Moran, having stopped two Reds kicks, lost her position and fell flat to the ground, unable to stop a Ikon Sout goal that put Reds up for keeps in a 1-0 win.

Reds now leads the table by seven points, and look stronger than ever. Whites might be the only team in position to stop them from the title and they'll meet at Sanah Ibek one more time this season.

"SECOND LEAGUE" FORMS

A collection of amateur clubs formed a "Second League", stating that they intended to challenge the SFA's current league of players. The teams from the new league include local sides such as Storan FC but include four amateur Thepos clubs including Majestic, Cardois, Kanadar and Arichosa VII FC. There are 11 teams in total.

The new group of amateurs intend to compete next year but will hold a cup tournament to coincide with current play. Two clubs, Kanadar and Arcandu squad Gray River Heights FC would be quick favorites in this new league, with Gray River Heights challenging the "Jabs" of Master Pharmacology to a city championship.

WHITES BRINGS YOUNGSTERS INTO THE FOLD

Hundreds of teenagers in Sanah Ibek showed up at National Football Arena for the chance to try out for the new Whites "U18" club forming. In other nations, teams of players under the age of 18 associated with elite level clubs play against each other in a separate league. Whites rooters put up the money to support a club of traveling youngers that will hopefully develop to become future players for the Whites.

Jeddry Winar, a member of the new Whites supporter group Ghosts of Football, said "We need to scout the country for the best young players. No other club has this. We intend to house these kids in the Sanah Ibek, we plan on building a special pitch for the youth and getting the volunteer support necessary. The fact that we have the first under-18 team in the country will give us an advantage in the long run. If not this year? Then the next and all the years after that."

SFA DIRECTOR MEETS WITH CAFA PRESIDENT IN MERTAGNE AS DELEGATION ARRIVES IN SHREVASHAL

Football Director Matee Landee traveled to Dannin to meet with new CAFA President Michelle Romanage with regard to support for Shrevashal football and its future official application to join CAFA. While the initial exchange began, a group of CAFA officials arrived in Shrevashal for an audit of Shrevashal's football infrastructure.

Officials from CAFA will be traveling to Sanah Ibek, Thepos and other cities to speak with clubs and assess stadiums, hold talks with broadcasters, media, players, and fans to provide suggestions for improvements that will strengthen the game in Shrevashal.

"Some of the advice we've received," Minister for Sport Ahal Statri said, "has been invaluable, and CAFA officials have brought to our attention a set of issues that we feel we can immediately address. Cost is a factor as the government has a lot of responsibility beyond sport, but process improvement and project management skills are sorely lacking on our side. In particular, it's good to have a set of contacts that have previously addressed these issues."

One instance where CAFA can have immediate impact is in the training of referees. "We've had to rely on volunteers," Landee said on a phone call, "but fans have complained about the poor officiating. Minister Statri and I have agreed that officials need the same sorts of stipends as players. During the off-season we will send our officials for the training in rules and refereeing to bring our referees up to CAFA standards. I think fans will notice the impact right away."

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                          18   14   2   2    51   13  +38    44
 2  (Whites)                        18   11   4   3    28   17  +11    37
 3  (Greens)                        18    9   5   4    50   27  +23    32
 4  (Old Print Shop FC)             18    8   6   4    19   12   +7    30
 5  (Army FC)                       18    8   4   6    25   20   +5    28
 6  (Pilots)                        18    7   5   6    28   23   +5    26
 7  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)   18    7   5   6    19   22   −3    26
 8  (Saints FC)                     18    6   5   7    25   31   −6    23
 9  (Master Pharmacology FC)        18    7   2   9    34   47  −13    23
10  (Sanah Ibek FC)                 18    4   5   9    23   36  −13    17
11  (Yellows)                       18    2   2  14    15   53  −38     8
12  (Blues)                         18    0   5  13     5   21  −16     5

OTHER NEWS

Opinion: Nanu's jokes about provocative anti-Shrevashalu film a big hit in polls
Poll: Shervashalu happy with gov - "our taxes go where we want"
Opinion: Nanu makes right decision in not rising to provocation
"Shame of the Nation" TV program leads to embarassment for scofflaws
Higher profile of Shrevashal brings refugee problems

[Shrevashal]

Greens Beat Pilots 7-3; Pilots Loss Marred by Riot
by Mara Stetende

The Greens 7-3 win at National Arena on Matchday 19 was a foregone conclusion. The rooters for Pilots during the game at National Stadium had other ideas, interfering with play on the pitch multiple times, attacking referees and fighting other fans. The Police Guard called for backup squads who restored order at the threat of tear gas, truncheon, and Gauss gun to disperse the angry crowd as dozens of fans were hauled away for processing.

Organized football, at least, was unanimous.

"Shameful," Football Director Ratee Landee said. "If 'hooligans' think they can turn Shrevashal football into a fighter's league? They are not aware of all the tools we have. We can empty arenas during matches, we can take the sport off media, and the government can and will shut down the entire league."

"If those are my fans?" Pilots midfielder Harken Madur said. "Then I don't want any fans at all. They're embarrassments."

"I was scared for my life out there," Greens midfielder Parsian Katashar said. "Some of those people were carrying rocks, what do we have to defend ourselves with?"

Greens fans were more than willing to fight back if necessary. "I'm not a thug," Parso Layende said, "I just carry a green banner to support my team. I like a nice clean game. But you're not going to threaten me because I can stand up for myself. And where were the police? F______ late to show up if you ask me."

"The entire game the Greens fans were giving us _____ about what a crap club we were," Pilots fan Baris Latare said. "Some of the spectators were giving the Greens players _____ when they came off the pitch for a throw-in or corner and the Greens players gave right back, saying nasty ____. I don't like it when the game is stopped either, and a couple of police aren't going to stop an angry mob. When the helmets started marching into the Arena carrying weapons and gas grenades? I started looking for the exits."

Some spectators condemned police brutality, but the Police Guard was in no mood for games. "If you attack the police?" Officer Stavay Isha-Darias said. "The more fool you." Landee would send a message to the Sanah Ibek Police expressing gratitude for their actions.

The incidents started after Greens took a 3-0 lead after halftime, and individuals - sometimes, small groups - of spectators invaded the pitch after Greens would score a goal. Greens player/manager Ludo Sadu was hit in the head with a rock during an altercation but he shoved off medical attention until after the game. "I'm not abandoning my team."

During Matchday 20, police were already waiting outside the national arena at Sanah Ibek for the match between Master Pharmacology and Pilots. Some fans were denied entry. The game ended in a 1-1 draw free of any pitch invasions.

Reds Kartme: "Whites Should Shut Their Mouths"

With the spotlight on the league after the incidents on Matchday 19, Whites player/manager Paras Porhare drew negative attention for his comments on Reds chances to take the title. Reds have a seven-point lead in the table over second-place Whites with just 12 matches to go.

"I get the impression reading the papers from Thepos that Reds think they have the title sealed," Porhare said. "They have to play us here one more time, and that's a game that we're going to win, so that points lead doesn't mean anything. People talk about how good Reds is, but they've been beaten twice and they don't talk about that. We gave them one of those losses."

Reds midfielder Deesha Kartme answered in the Thepos media. "If there's anyone who should shut up, it's Whites. Tell Paras that I was at that game, and we lost it 2-1 but I didn't see a team that couldn't be beaten. When they showed up in Thepos we smashed them 4-0. They didn't look like obvious champions to me. If it's different after the last Matchday? I'll apologize to Paras and buy him a drink."

Commander Para Rajesu, manager of the Reds was dismissive of the comments. "I don't know what's worse, when a tsake yells at you or when you bark back at a tsake. I've spoken to Kartme, we won't be hearing any more from her on the matter. Porhare can talk all he wants, nothing says I have to listen to any of it."

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                          21   17   2   2    62   14  +48    53
 2  (Whites)                        21   14   4   3    38   19  +19    46
 3  (Greens)                        21   11   5   5    59   34  +25    38
 4  (Old Print Shop FC)             21    9   7   5    20   14   +6    34
 5  (Army FC)                       21    8   7   6    27   22   +5    31
 6  (Pilots)                        21    8   6   7    34   31   +3    30
 7  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)   21    8   6   7    22   24   −2    30
 8  (Saints FC)                     21    7   6   8    28   34   −6    27
 9  (Master Pharmacology FC)        21    7   3  11    36   54  −18    24
10  (Sanah Ibek FC)                 21    5   6  10    28   41  −13    21
11  (Yellows)                       21    2   3  16    16   61  −45     9
12  (Blues)                         21    0   5  16     5   27  −22     5

OTHER NEWS

Wealthy Shrevashalu take slight dip in income - PPR takes credit
Coverups in juvenile justice system force government to take action
Naked man hospitalized after invading pitch during televised wrestleball game

[Shrevashal]

BLUES BECOME FINAL TEAM TO WIN IN INAUGURAL SEASON, DEFEAT ARMY FC
by Mara Stetende

In the first of two games to be held at Sora Rashishan Stadium on Matchday 24, Blues became the final team in the league to win a football match, breaking a streak of 23 games without winning by beating home squad Army 1-0.

Blues's only goal was a thing of beauty as forward Benar Shutta gained possession of an errant pass by Army in Blues territory and broke free to the opposite goal, evading three Blues players on the way to a looping shot that evaded Army's keeper and scored only the sixth goal that the Blues have scored this season.

"I've looked for the net all year," Shutta said, "and I got it."

"The spin on that ball?" Army manager Commander Ulsa Huydmara said after the game. "That ball couldn't have been stopped by any keeper. The Goddess had her hands on that one."

It was Blues's job to hold the lead. In the 60th minute, Army had three consecutive corner kicks but couldn't cross any of them past the Blues defense. Blues looked like they would be denied in the 79th minute when Army's Meta Perser scored what seemed to be the drawing goal but the goal was called back for offside. When the final whistle blew, the Blues and their fans treated the victory as if they had won the league.

For Blues player/manager Cona Medor, the win didn't bring so much elation as relief. "We're finally done with all the talk," Medor said. "It's a great deal of pressure off our backs."


THEPOS FOOTBALL STADIUM DAMAGED BY FIRE

A fire took place at Sora Rashishan Stadium in Thepos after Thepos Pier's 4-1 victory over Master Pharmacology. Fire Control was called to the stadium at 23:15 pm as flames were sighted near the top of the stadium. The blaze was properly suppressed but damaged the "broadcast box" of the stadium, destroying the interior.

Flames were seen coming from the interior of the stadium as well. Fire Control managed to put out fires in both locker rooms and at a concession stand. Other parts of the stadium were damaged but the stadium remains intact. Inspectors and engineers are examining the structure to determine if the stadium is a safe place to play.

When asked if arson was a possibility, Fire Commander Gaes Ta'Sorda stated that it wasn't out of the question, "but we don't jump to conclusions. A full examination will have to take place." Football Director Ratee Landee stated that games in Thepos would be moved to Sanah Ibek until the stadium could be fully cleared for play.

BANNER TO BE AWARDED TO FUTURE CHAMPIONS

In other nations, trophies are awarded to the team that has the best record in the table, or perhaps cups are awarded to those that win "Cup Tournaments". For this year, the SFA will award a banner to its eventual champion. With nine games left to go, it is still mathematically possible for the top five teams to win or share the title, although for teams like Thepos Pier or Old Print Shop it is a virtual impossibility.

"The team that wins the table will keep the championship banner, which will be flown outside the winning arena during the following season whenever the winning team performs," Landee said.

The current design of the banner has not been determined. The presentation of the banner will take place sometime in the off-season.

Landee also rules out any embellishments for teams that might win whose player are currently receiving stipends. "The SFA does not embrace professionalism," Landee said. "Some of the teams in the league do not get stipends for their players. I don't want the league to be driven by money."

SHREVASHAL XI TO BE ANNOUNCED AFTER SEASON

The best 11 players in the league will be named at the end of the season. Player voting will make one part of the weight, manager (or player/manager) voting will make another part and a selection by media will make a third part. The players will be named by position to choose a hypothetical team of champions.

It is expected that after the season this team will be named as the Shrevashal National Team. Sources reveal that new kits with the national colors are being ordered from foreign manufacturers. CAFA approval of the national team is expected to follow, making the team eligible for friendly matches and CAFA cup tournaments.

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                          24   20   2   2    71   16  +55    62
 2  (Whites)                        24   16   4   4    40   21  +19    52
 3  (Greens)                        24   12   5   7    63   38  +25    41
 4  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)   24   11   6   7    29   26   +3    39
 5  (Old Print Shop FC)             24    9   8   7    21   19   +2    35
 6  (Army FC)                       24    9   7   8    29   24   +5    34
 7  (Pilots)                        24    9   6   9    41   37   +4    33
 8  (Saints FC)                     24    8   7   9    31   37   −6    31
 9  (Sanah Ibek FC)                 24    7   6  11    35   45  −10    27
10  (Master Pharmacology FC)        24    8   3  13    39   63  −24    27
11  (Yellows)                       24    3   3  18    19   69  −50    12
12  (Blues)                         24    1   5  18     6   29  −23     8

OTHER NEWS

Street art installations in Sanah Ibek a beauty to some, a nuisance to others
Work to begin on new southern highway
A potential banner year for national agriculture

[Shrevashal]

BLEEDING STOPS FOR JABS, MA'SHEK BLAMED FOR TABLE SLIDE
by Mara Stetende

You'd think that a team called Master Pharmacology would have the solution for any ills, and sources close to the club say that the cause of those ills is keeper Rentie Ma'shek.

Consider the following results:

Matchday 21: Reds 5 - Jabs 1. (Okay, not unexpected.)
Matchday 22: Jabs 1 - Saints 0
Matchday 23: Sanah Ibek 5 - Jabs 1
Matchday 24: Thepos Pier 4 - Jabs 1
Matchday 25: Whites 6 - Jabs 1
Matchday 26: Army 1 - Jabs 1
Matchday 27: Jabs 1 - Blues 0

Four crushing defeats and a draw with one of the two wins coming against the worst club in the league. The feeling among Jabs fans over the last two games was that the slide was over; the course had been corrected. Clearly, something's not proper with a defense that is tied with the Yellows with goals given up. It's true that the Jabs like to "rush the net" as their fans say and they are averse to any sort of patient ball-movement game but according to an insider the real problem is that player/manager and goalkeep Rentie Ma'shek refuses to make any adjustments.

"What she wants," the source says, "is to run the club as her personal fiefdom - a real slaver mentality. She doesn't take criticism, and when the offense can't keep up with all the goals she gives up, she takes it out on the players."

"The Thepos clubs have outsiders as managers," another source said. "If we had anyone at the head of this club other than her, this wouldn't have happened. It gets harder and hard to show up at gameday."

Ma'shek stated that she had no comment regarding the allegations, her only response being that "it's a special kind of cowardice to hind behind anonymous remarks."

As it turns out, the club does have outside managers - the Pharmacology Service Sector located in Arcandu. The sector is divided into various units with Unit 57 dedicated to pill production. Many of the players on the Yellow squad spend their days making pills and their nights playing football.

The club was created from "patriotic inspiration" according to Ros Awte, the government manager running the factory. "The government wanted to get football going, and we had several athletes who worked here, and the other managers and I agreed that we could contribute a team of athletes to the effort. However, the process is not as pleasant as we hoped it would be. I know there is tension in the club, and the club carries the name of the Service Sector in a general sense so reports of discontent indirectly affect all of us."

Awte stated that she would be intervening over the off-season. "It's a little too far gone now, but it's not impossible to finish in the upper half. I'm not blaming the performance on any one person, everyone has to search down deep inside and find the reasons for their poor performance."

(* * *)

UPSET BY YELLOWS END GREENS SEASON

Greens still had the mathematical possibility of finishing first going into Matchday 27, but a 3-1 loss to Yellows precluded the chances of the One True Club to take the championship banner. With six games left, only Reds and Whites have a chance for a top finish.

After cautious play during most of the first fifteen minutes, Yellows put together some set pieces and clearly had their mind on offense. A corner kick in the 40th minute gave Yellow first blood with midfielder Jona Te placing the ball neatly into the Green net. Two minutes later, another Yellows corner kick had Jona Te score on a header to put Yellows up 2-0 to the consternation of the Greens players and their rooters.

Greens then resorted to reckless defending which lead to the awarding of a free kick with 45 minutes of time. Yellows forward Wej Lokara put the fall right between the wall and into the net to give Yellows a 3-0 lead going into halftime. Greens answered with an unstoppable Ludo Sadu goal in the 49th minutes but Yellows were clearly the better team all around.

With the season almost finished, Greens have an outside shot at a second place finish but Whites will have to be quite unlucky to drop.

WHITES GAIN +2 ON REDS DRAW WITH TPC

With investigations still in progress regarding the stadium fire at Sora Rashishan Stadium, the Reds and Thepos Pier played a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd at National Football Arena in Sanah Ibek. With Whites beating Pilots 1-0 the Whites have pulled up to five points of the top with six games left to go.

Reds took an early lead but in the 32nd minute a volley from Thepos Pier's Reber Lim headed towards the Reds goal, but Ner Jacol stooped low for the stop and the shot went between her legs to bring TPC even with Reds.

In addition, Roshi Solar had a great appearance in goal and was clearly prepared to fight off any Reds counterattacks as the player/manager controlled TPC's defense perfectly. Commander Para Rajesu, gaffer for the Reds, praised Solar for his performance and stated, "Our passing was particularly poor during the second half and we couldn't get anything going. We can't coast to a championship banner, and I'm going to make sure we don't."

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                          27   21   3   3    81   23  +58    66
 2  (Whites)                        27   19   4   4    50   23  +27    61
 3  (Greens)                        27   14   5   8    67   41  +26    47
 4  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)   27   12   7   8    32   30   +2    43
 5  (Pilots)                        27   11   6  10    47   40   +7    39
 6  (Old Print Shop FC)             27   10   8   9    23   22   +1    38
 7  (Saints FC)                     27   10   7  10    34   39   −5    37
 8  (Army FC)                       27    9   8  10    30   27   +3    35
 9  (Master Pharmacology FC)        27    9   4  14    42   70  −28    31
10  (Sanah Ibek FC)                 27    7   6  14    39   57  −18    27
11  (Yellows)                       27    6   3  18    24   70  −46    21
12  (Blues)                         27    1   5  21     6   33  −27     8

OTHER NEWS

Assassination attempt on First Minister fails - Jalis Nanu unharmed, assassins caught
Serene Leader addresses crowd: "May the Goddess protect our First Minister, and all our ministers"
PPR: "No assassins can split the masses, our government is united with the administration"
Taxation issue dooms Shrevashal support of GA Religious Freedom Bill: "We are a Goddess Republic"

[Shrevashal]

REDS BEAT WHITES IN CRITICAL MATCH
by Mara Stetende

The match everyone had been waiting for took place on Matchday 28 when the two top teams in the table met at Sanah Ibek in the Whites last chance to make a surge and steal the championship banner. This match was technically a "home" match but the damage to Sora Rashishan Stadium in Thepos meant that the game would be played at Sanah Ibek. Reds walked away with a 1-0 victory that all but secured the banner.

The unexpected hero of the match was Reds center back Radia Bos who scored the lone goal of the game in the 14th minute. Bos won the fall off a throw-in and then curled a shot into the left side of the goal past Whites keeper Banit Wimin to put Reds up 1-0. Each team had three shot attempts in the first half but Bos was the only one who had a shot even close.

From then on, it was up to the Reds to hold the lead. The defense remained strong but Whites began to break the Red wall with 10 minutes left in regulation. Ner Jacol in goal kept Whites in check with saves in the 80th, 81st and 90th minute of the game to keep Whites scoreless.

"We managed to defeat the Whites all three times in Sanah Ibek," Commander Para Rajesu said. "It was a great effort, Bos stepped up when she needed to and Jacol kept the clean sheet. It was all we could ask for."

Football Minister Ratee Landee, having returned from Mertagne, will award the banner to Reds if and when - most likely, when - the Reds clinch the league.

REDS AND WHITES SEESAW

The Reds took an eight-point lead in the league but they learned that you can never rest in football. Matchday 29 saw the Reds suffer a setback, losing 1-0 to city rival Army FC while the Whites beat the Saints 3-0 to erase the advantage gained against the Whites the previous matchday.

However, Sanah Ibek would do Reds a favor as they beat Whites 1-0 on Matchday 30 while Reds defeated the hapless Blues 2-0.

With only three games remaining, Reds lead Whites by eight points. In the third game of Matchday 31 Reds will face Greens and can clench the league title with a victory. The last and latest game of the night will be Thepos Pier against Whites, where Whites must win all three of their game and Reds must lose all three of their games for Whites to have a mathematical shot at a title.

PPR PARTY CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT FOOTBALL DIRECTOR

Permanent Party of the Revolution Councilor Jet'ee Horanon called for changes in the government control of football, calling for the sport's manager to be an independent civil servant as opposed to a government appointee.

"As long as ministry portfolios are handed out by the government mandate, football's fortunes will change depending on which party is in political power. Football should be a sport run independently of political considerations," Horanon said. "The head of the SFA should not be any sort of minister or the servant of some departmental head and should instead be a civil professional whose appointment can be vetted by both parties. It should be a person who is not some politician. Our recommendation to the First Council will be to review how football is managed in this nation."

"Political considerations take no part in how either the Minister of Sport or the Director of Footall address issues in the sport," Football Media Director Kees Raneya replied. "In particular, Football Minister Ratee Landee was chosen for his job for his organizational acumen and for a lifetime of dedication to athletes and the promotion of health and sport, not for his support of the National Unity Party. Despite the troubles this season, he has seen the first season of organized Shrevashal football near to a close. He should be commended by both parties of the government and not face sniping from a member of the First Council."

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                          30   23   3   4    84   24  +60    72  = secured top 4
 2  (Whites)                        30   20   4   6    53   25  +28    64  = secured top 4
 3  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)   30   15   7   8    42   31  +11    52
 4  (Greens)                        30   14   8   8    72   46  +26    50
 5  (Army FC)                       30   12   8  10    37   30   +7    44
 6  (Pilots)                        30   12   7  11    53   47   +6    43
 7  (Old Print Shop FC)             30   11  10   9    29   25   +4    43
 8  (Saints FC)                     30   10   7  13    35   45  −10    37
 9  (Master Pharmacology FC)        30    9   7  14    49   77  −28    34
10  (Sanah Ibek FC)                 30    8   6  16    41   64  −23    30
11  (Yellows)                       30    7   4  19    32   80  −48    25
12  (Blues)                         30    1   5  24     6   39  −33     8

OTHER NEWS

Nanu after assassination: "I plan on being here a long time"
National Arts Award to popular musician causes furor among intellectuals, government action demanded
Mysterious "purple syrup" factory deaths investigated; National Syrup factory #93 under investigation
Shrevashalu wildlife enjoys rebirth: "the widest variety of animal wildlife in almost 100 years"

[Shrevashal]

Reds Take Championship, Shut Out Greens
by Mara Stetende

Matchday 31 proved to be the day the nation would learn who took the AR 205 Shrevashal Football Association championship, and Red and Greens brought all their supporters to a game at Sanah Ibek dominated by crowd enthusiasm. If Greens won, they could delay Reds winning the banner but Reds thoroughly dominated Greens 4-0 and received the championship banner from Football Director Ratee Landee in an end-of-game ceremony.

"We've got one more thing to do, and that's paint the capital red," Radia Bos said. "So the Commander better not expect us to be there early to prep for the game against the Jabs. The Goddess is going to be asking a lot of guys for sex tonight!"

"I don't expect to get much sleep," Commander Para Rajesu said. "I'm already thinking about next season and repeating. This team went to football school this season. No one knew anything about anything. They are fine athletes, and they're graduated with honors."

"This was supposed to be a home game for the Reds," Landee said, "but due to a fire, their games had to be played here in Sanah Ibek. But they are not Thepos's champion, they are the nation's champion and what better place for them to win?"

Reds began the fireworks by stopping Greens march to the Reds goal with a well-placed tackle, and nothing came of the ensuing corner kick from Greens. Reds immediately marched the ball back up the pitch and Reds midfielder Hetma Marsan fired the artillery from yards away and put the first ball in the net for Reds in the 22nd minute. Ten minutes later, a free kick by Reds made Greens pay for the foul as Shari Madisol knocked the ball in the upper left corner of the net to give Reds a 2-0 lead.

The play from the Reds forwards was particularly strong but they were far from greedy, finding Marsan catching up from the back of a run to put in a beautifully placed chip-shot to give Reds a 3-0 lead going into the half in extra time. Marsan would then score the hat trick in the second half in the 63th minute with another goal that burned a furrow in the pitch as Greens keeper Ludo Sadu couldn't get low enough to stop it. Greens increased their physical play in the second half but it only ended with offsides, and Reds responded in kind with some ugly fouls but both sides walked peacefully off the field at the end.

When asked if he minded if casual fans joined the "band-wagon" of the Reds, Commander Rajesu smiled. "Come on board. There's plenty of room!"

"Winning will be a lot tougher next year," Marsan said. "They know who we are now, and we're ready to defend the banner, come what may."

Blues Pick Up Second Win

At the other end of table, following the end of the Reds-Greens game and in the very same arena, Blues managed to steal a 1-0 victory from Saints to get their second win of the season.

Blues took the lead in the 18th minute of the game, with midfielder Cona Medor of the blues zig-zagging from the right and putting a sweet shot in the top corner out of the reach of keeper Fante Yenet. Saints tried to level up right away and had a great opportunity in the 20th minute, but midfielder Arti Tosar lost her footing and kicked the ball right over the Blues goal.

Saints player-manager Parise Danar looked very angry at his squad, shouting orders from the pitch. Unfortunately, Saints midfielder Cadat Tornav went down with an ankle injury just after the half and Blues played a patient ball-control game - but it wasn't boring as Medor threatened the Saints several times in the last half with Saints needing hard work just to neutralize the threat he represented.

Nothing would stop Blues from finishing dead last in the league, but there was one consolation - there would be no relegation in this first year of play.

"Second League" Cup Matches Begin This Week

Twelve amateur elevens started this final week of league play to compete in what is being called the Amateur Cup. The opening round started with the last eight entrants playing opening games at small pitches across the nation, with the senior four clubs playing the winners in the following round. Draws would result in a follow-up match in the mid-week except for the semi-finals and finals, where matches would be played to extra time if needed.

RESULTS:

Round 1:

North Palata 1- Kanadar 1
Polis City 0 - Gray River Heights 1
Ochabe Shore 3 - Arichosa VII 1
Ornitor 1 -Sumoto Sports Club 0

Round 1 (Replay):

Kanadar 1 - North Palata 0

Pos  Team                          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1  (Reds)                          33   26   3   4    98   27  +71    81 = champion
 2  (Whites)                        33   22   5   6    57   26  +31    71 = top four
 3  (Greens)                        33   16   8   9    75   51  +24    56 = top four
 4  (Thepos Pier Construction FC)   33   16   8   9    45   34  +11    56 = top four
 5  (Pilots)                        33   14   8  11    60   51   +9    50
 6  (Army FC)                       33   13  10  10    41   33   +8    49
 7  (Old Print Shop FC)             33   11  10  12    32   33   −1    43
 8  (Saints FC)                     33   10   7  16    37   52  −15    37
 9  (Master Pharmacology FC)        33   10   7  16    55   86  −31    37
10  (Sanah Ibek FC)                 33    9   6  18    45   67  −22    33
11  (Yellows)                       33    8   5  20    38   87  −49    29
12  (Blues)                         33    2   5  26     7   43  −36    11

OTHER NEWS

Armed Forces prepare to intervene as Ybans Islanders attempt secession
Nanu: "I walk through Shrevashal without fear"
Three members of National Police face charges in shooting of three men

[Shrevashal]

SHREVASHAL BEST XI AR 205

Manager Commander Para Rajesu (Reds)

G Ner Jacol (Reds)

CB Radia Bos (Reds)
CB Lemisi Karnel (Reds)
FB Jemiri Bos (Pilots)
FB Mentis Garan (Reds)

CM Lev'te Botoroshan (Greens)
CM Hetma Marsan (Reds)
DM Sidu Makarke (Reds)
AM Deesha Kartme (Reds)

F/S/WF Jeki Pal'itante (Greens)
F/S/WF Shari Madisol (Reds)

THE OOC PART:

Okay, my first season is complete. I'm surprised I got this far. So here are my future plans:

* Naming a Shrevashal National Team and dipping my foot into scheduling friendly matches. From that, I'll dip my other foot into participating in CAFA and - dare I say it? ("Dare! Dare!") World Cup thingies.

* Inviting other posters to send players and/or coaches to the SFA. I will assume that there will be a maximum of one foreign signing per however many teams there will be in the second season (AR 206). Before the few people reading this throw in a bunch of players, some facts about Shrevashal Football as it stands.

This is a "Democratic Socialist" economy (until I face issues that change that into something else). We have a poor economy where capitalism is a dirty word and the state owns everything, and that's almost taken literally. There are a few boutique businesses here and there and whenever the state needs an industry to be competitive they'll loosen the shackles and allow some competition but this is hardly a rich country. The difference between the bottom 10 percent and the top 10 percent is shockingly thin, and only a few teams are semi-pro at best where they receive a government stipend (!). Players are thinking about maybe leasing a new car from a state car rental service or perhaps, buying a washing machine with their stipends in a country where going to the movies is a luxury. Players in this league aren't rich, they have other jobs on the side (but that might change in the future).

(On the other hand, sexuality is very libertine here, so that's a plus if you're so inclined.)

There is also a very slap-dash element of things. Now that Shrevashal has formally applied to CAFA, CAFA is helping them with their rules issues - transfer windows and the like and the training of officials. But there are only two truly "polished" stadia in the country (where all the teams play regardless of their locations). A lot of pitches today were barren fields yesterday, the stands are ramshackle wood or steel benches, and the infrastructure is practically non-existent at the amateur level.

So any players interested in playing in Shrevashal would have to be kind of players who are looking for exposure more than anything else, or the kind of managers that are either a) missionary-minded teachers or b) can't get hired in their national leagues and are looking for one last shot. Players coming would probably be very young (get the youngster some easy competition) or very old (and I mean really old).

Therefore, I'm opening the thread to replies. If you want to message me about sending someone, let me know.

FINALS: I'm at school and this is finals week. Posting will be quite slow over the coming week, but that might change depending on how much I need a break.

[Shrevashal]

OOC: National team needs kits. I figure, "basic team, basic kit". These are the "home kits". Shrevashal will use this kit if given first pick of kits if the kits of their opponents are similar.



The "visiting kits" are very basic. (Which, if the home team prefers a lighter kit color, gives them the excuse to wear the above tricolor kit they prefer to wear)

[Shrevashal]

Shrevashal National Team

Manager	Commander Para Rajesu (Reds)		Strict, disciplined manager who runs his team like soldiers - believes in balance and the 4-4-2.  Focuses on the most basic skills.
						
G1	Ner Jacol (Reds)			27		Will never be a sweeper-keeper but has split-second instincts and a lack of self-preservation.
G2	Ars Fercor (Greens)			38		Tall lanky body for a goalkeep but age is a problem, can't play for much longer.
G3	Roshi Solar (Thepos Pier)		20		Has great instincts for keeper, and can run a little.
						
DF	Radia Bos (Reds)			26		"Mindreader"  -  Excellent communicator, an instinct for reading set pieces.
DF	Lemisi Karnel (Reds)			21		Very fast, can get to a position immediately.   Technique, however, would be poor compared to an experienced player.
DF	Ludo Sadu (Greens)			22		Definitely leadership skills.  In a league where athletes are learning how to play for the first time, she is the best defensive header in the league.
DF	Jemiri Bos (Pilots)			37		The hardest working man in football, routinely outworks younger players but decision making is sometimes poor.
DF	Mentis Garan (Reds)			32		Very good against enemy pressure at full back.
DF	Lemisi Karnel (Reds)			32		In this "beginner's league" a lot of defenders can be fooled out of their position, but she always keeps her mind where she needs to be.
DF	Maplen Gene'harse (Whites U18)		15		Para Rajesu noticed his ball-handling skills as a defender:  "great thinking, the best player I've seen, takes to the game naturally"
						
MF	Lev'te Botoroshan (Greens)		20		Great ability to get out of scrapes - most players in the league will crumble with any defensive pressure, not him.
MF	Hetma Marsan (Reds)			22		Where midfielders look for big passes, Hetma Marsan chooses small ones - but he knows where to pass it to.
MF	Rorin Baransay (Reds)			20		Can turn on a pebble when faced with defensive pressure.  Uses quick bursts of speed to get out of scrapes.
MF	Seni Felata (Thepos Pier)		35		Excellent endurance, will challenge opponents a full 90 minutes.
MF	Sidu Makarke (Reds)			27		Great at breaking up plays defensively, but will end up choking for air after 70 minutes.
MF	Besh Rategu (Pilots)			35		Excellent at finding the attacking players on his team.
MF	Deesha Kartme (Reds)			25		Doesn't have a weak foot, which is a big thing in this league.
						
F/S/WF	Jeki Pal'itante (Greens)		30		"The Assassin" - great peripheral vision, looks for "out of the way" locations to receive passes and to catch opponents unawares.
F/S/WF	Shari Madisol (Reds)			32		"Shary Shari" - wild untamed player with a killer instinct.  Zero respect for better opponents.  If she smells blood, she'll start "hunting goals".
F/S/WF	Meta Perser (Army FC)			26		Able to control the ball with his body well and fire off a fast strike.
F/S/WF	Mes Parol (Pilots)			32		Crosses are coin flips in this list, but he takes to crosses well, one of the few players who has mastered his timing in this aspect of the game.

[Shrevashal]

AR 206 in Football: Expansion, Professionalism, and More
by Mara Stetende

In a press conference alongside Minister of Sport Ahal Statri, Director of Football Ratee Landee addressed the issues facing Shrevashal Football in the new year while surrounded by reporters from the main television and radio channels of Shrevashal broadcasting along with their ancillary outlets.

"The first year has been more successful than we could have imagined. We had some setbacks, but we overcame them quite nicely. Shrevashal now has a national football team and we will be scheduling our first friendlies in the coming season. The news is good, the sport is strong and frankly? We were shocked at the speed of growth of a foreign sport. It won't be easy, because new success brings larger challenges, but I know that CAFA, the Minister of Sport, and the government can help us shoulder the load. Hopefully, football rooters will be patient with us."

Working with CAFA President Michelle Romanage, a plan was developed by Landee and approved by the Minister of Sport that would hopefully put football in our nation on a strong basis not just in AR 206 but many years in the future. Among the announcements in the long press conference.

* One of the teams, Master Pharmacology FC, was disbanded by its operators. Statri states that Jabs players are free to sign on with any team in the the Association. The other top squad in Arcandu - the Pilots - will be coming back in AR 206, and Master Pharmacology will be the only disbanded team while the 11 other clubs have returned for the new season.

* Shrevashal Football will expand to 16 teams in the upcoming season. "The demand is strong, and more athletes are looking to get into football," Landee said. "With the Amateur Cup under way, we feel that the best performing teams from that tournament should advance into a new organization called the "First League". Amateur clubs at a lower levels of football will be called the "Second League" and other levels of a "pyramid" will be created as necessary.

* However, the eight clubs that receive stipends- Reds, Whites, Greens, Yellows, Blues, Pilots, Sanah Ibek and Saints - will be the only clubs in the league to receive any sort of government stipend for play. "All other clubs will receive no stipends and shall be forced to find their own financing."

* The size of the stipend for play will be "more than doubled" according to Landee. Upon reports that players from the "Big Eight" who were interested in other clubs were asking the government if they could bring their stipends to their new clubs, a compromise (of sorts) was reached. "Players moving from clubs supplemented by the government to non-supplemented clubs can bring their stipends with them, but those stipends will not increase." The players who want to move, therefore, will receive last years valuation.

* Due to the new size of the league, the season has been shortened from 33 matches to 30. Each team shall play one 'home' and one 'away' match. However, each club in the top league is required to have a stadium "of suitable size and comfort". The only stadiums that meet the requirements, according to Landee, are National Football Arena in Sanah Ibek and Sora Rashistan Stadium in Thepos. Clubs in Arcanda and Masa Daru (or elsewhere) will have to play their 'home' matches at those squads.

* A knockout tournament will be played across all of football next year involving teams from both leagues but the tournament has not been named. It is not known what sort of rewards players might receive.

* Transfer windows will be added to the season schedule which will allow players to rest during the middle of the season, and to allow players to peacefully transfer from one club to another.

* The two worst performing clubs in the First League will be relegated to the Second League at season's end and likewise the two best performing First League clubs will advance. The third from bottom club in the First League will play the third from top club in the Second League for an opportunity at advancement during a two-game series.

Head Red will Not Be Punished for Party Rally but Gov Will Not Pay for Banners

During the same press conference, Minister of Sport Ahal Statri addressed the incident of Reds gaffer and National Team manager Commander Para Rajesu displaying the Reds championship banner for last season at an address of the Party of the Permanent Revolution (PPR). PPR officials and party leaders stood in front of the banner while having their pictures taken and shook hands with Commander Rajesu in front of a live audience of party faithful in Thepos.

"Let me say this," Statri said. "Everyone is welcome in football. It is not a place for racism or any sort of slaver mentality. Clubs do not belong to political parties. A member of the PPR should feel perfectly at ease at a Greens game, and a [member of the National Unity Party] should feel comfortable at a Reds game. The association of kit colors with party colors is quite unfortunate, and I expressed to Commander Rajesu that his blurring of the lines with that appearance is detrimental to the sport. It does not rise, however, to an actionable offense."

"However," Statri said, "the danger is that a government-created banner could be seen as a government endorsement. Therefore, teams will have the right to hang a championship banner but the government will neither endorse nor fund such tangible awards."

Commander Rajesu released a written statement. "It was never my intent to imply any direct connection between the Reds club and the PPR. I simply exercised my privilege to take part in political activities like any other Shervashalu. I make no secret of my political support to the PPR and many Reds fans there at the rally were interested in seeing our championship banner. The fault is entirely mine. In no way would I imply that the Reds club is compromised by the PPR or that any official influence exists. Likewise, in my role as a military officer I will defend our society "in all its colors" and all of its party affiliations."

AMATEUR CUP RESULTS: Quarterfinals

Notarande 0 - Ochabe Shore 0
Ornitor 1 -Cartois 0
Gray River Heights 5 - Storan 1
Majestic 0 - Kanadar 2

Amateur Cup Quarterfinals Replay:

Notarande 0 - Ochabe Shore 1


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Radiation monitoring underway as first radioactive metals mined

[Shrevashal]

Amateur Semifinalists Make First League: But Where to Play?
by Mara Stetende

The Shrevashal Football Association announced that the four teams playing in semifinals of the Amateur Cup - Gray River Heights, Kanadar, Ochabe Shore, and Ornitor - have all been invited to the First League. This will bring the number of teams in the First League to 15 teams out of the 16 announced by the SFA. Despite presentations to the SFA through by various amateur organizations, it is strongly rumored that Majestic FC will receive the final invitation as Majestic Hills in Thepos offers all the amenities of stadiums like the National Football Arena or Sora Rashishan Stadium.

Kanadar and Majestic are both located in Thepos, bringing the number of Theposian teams in the First League to five if Majestic wins its bid. Sanah Ibek will have six teams in the first league: Whites, Greens, Old Print Shop, Sanah Ibek, Yellows, and Blues. Gray River Heights will replace departing Master Pharmacology and join Pilots as the two Arcandu teams in the league. Saints and Ochabe Shore will represent Masa Daru and Ornitor FC will represent its namesake city of Ornitor.

Football Director Ratee Landee stated that the next step is to find the money for new stadiums. "We need not just money, we need the willpower," Landee said. "In order to have an elite class league, we need real grounds. The fact that we have so few high level clubs is murder on the pitch; all those same day games in Sanah Ibek require a lot of maintenance. And by grounds, I'm not talking a few rickety bleachers, I mean comfortable seating with amenities that could compete with any in CAFA."

For those cities that don't have stadiums? "It hurts us," Saints rooter Mente Forsu said. "Our fans have to travel all the way to Sanah Ibek to see our city club play. We can listen on the radio this year, but how are we able to compete when the rainbow teams from Sanah Ibek bring all of their supporters and banners. Yellows is going to bring choreography and maybe even a tifo! How are our Saints going to compete with that?"

However, not every Sanah Ibek club is happy sharing a pitch. "When Thepos [Sora Rashishan Stadium] had their fire, play last season was a nightmare," Whites player-manager Paras Porhare said. "Land is at a premium in large cities. Outside of Sanah Ibek you could throw up anything. I wonder why Masa Daru doesn't have five stadiums with what land prices are in the south. Besides, with the downturn in the economy everyone is poor. We can't beg the fans for money forever when we have to compete with five other clubs in the capital."

Unfortunately for fans of clubs not in Sanah Ibek or Thepos, Landee isn't budging on the stadium issue. He wants Shrevashal facilities to have "a distinct character, to be jewels of a nation which is experiencing a revival and finding its place in the world. We are putting our best foot forward. Our fans see the stadiums that other clubs have. I saw a young girl wearing a club kit from some club from Cobrio and I almost died. This isn't a matter of facilities, this is a matter of pride."

CAFA Matchday 2 Results Break Viewing Records

Wtih CAFA Cup V matches in progress, Shrevashalu football fans are showing great interest. All of the games are being shown on Network B and legislation is pending in the First Council that will replay the matches after networks close at 22 h 00. The 2-0 victory of Chromatika against Audioslava set viewing records with Shrevashalu broadcasters Rem Tomarse and Hipara Lanin providing commentary.

While gambling is legal (and government controlled), most of the "action" is in the illegal gambling syndicates which are a plague of the nation - as the winnings there are untaxed. This doesn't count informal office betting pools and informal bets between friends where a few twi might be riding on wins and losses. Hardcore bettors are attempting to circumvent the internet blocks placed on gambling websites hosted in other countries and introducing types of betting of which most people have never heard.

"You can bet on anything," a young Shrevashalu said who preferred to be nameless. She has made a small fortune betting several thousands of Twi on gambling events both nationally and internationally. "You can bet on teams, players, when goals are scored, cards, the whole thing. It's just like wrestleball betting, but the action is a lot stronger. The hard part is getting past the web police and trying to figure out which direction the flow of the betting is going. It's hard to do when you're several miles away. But even so...if you have the twis, you can make the connections."

State broadcasters are making way for when group stages end. "The matches will stay on Network B at present," Football Director Ratee Landee said. "We'll provide live translation. Someday, fans will watch our national team play in a CAFA Cup, and the numbers will be even higher."

AMATEUR CUP RESULTS: Semifinals

Kanadar 0 - Ornitor 1
Gray River Heights 4 - Ochabe Shore 3

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Artist squatters in Sanah Ibek a concern
"Stinking rich" - government sewer renovations allow diggers to make fortunes in found trash

[Shrevashal]

Gray River Heights Wins Amateur Cup in Penalty Showdown
by Fidu Salanane

The Amateur Cup concluded in a match at National Football Arena that came down to penalty kicks. Arcandu team Gray River Heights and Ornitor team Ornitor FC played to a draw in the final match that was left scoreless after 120 minutes of regulation play. The championship would come down to the last kick of a penalty shootout where Gray River Heights striker Serfar Maentu put a penalty kick right in the upper part of the net to give Gray River Heights a 3-2 lead in goals after five tries from each side.

Regardless of which team won, both teams have been invited into the First League next season. That fact didn't diminish from the struggle on the field, or the roar of the crowds.

Metar Faeden, the Gray River Heights keeper and manager, praised his squad for sticking it out. "When we put this squad together months ago, our goal was to see what we could do. We were all athletes, interested in football but none of us had played it. Some of those first few friendlies were horrible but we started to put it together, sort out our difficulties, get advice and gain confidence. The 'pro' teams aren't much better than us. And now, we have the chance to write sports history in the First League next year."

Pilots and Gray River Heights will be sharing a pitch as soon as a stadium can be built in Arcandu. "We've played in some crappy locations," Faeden said. "Pitches that were soggy wet, and which made running and kicking very difficult. Playing in the Arena was very different - I was surprised by how fast the pitch was."

Even though Gray River Heights might have been fast, they had no accuracy. In the 54th minute, Ornitor striker Larn Emor came the closest to scoring a goal but the try went off the crossbar. Ornitor could force the ball into the middle but couldn't advance past the Gray River Heights defenders.

For Ornitor, the largest problem has been keeping a team together. "We had a few players defect at the beginning of the year," Ornitor rooter Jes Flyn said. "The replacements have been rough and our bench has been thin all year and it showed in extra time. I think that when the club has some stability and the players get more experience, we'll see big improvements next season."

Rumors Rampant that Reds Marisol Will Defect

First League champion Reds have learned that staying on top is a full time job. Thepos papers reported the unlikely rumor story that Reds manager Commander Para Rajesu would be snapped up by Greens, which forced both clubs to deny that Rajesu would be seeking to bring a rival squad to the top. However, unnamed sources indicate that Rajesu's biggest challenge will not be to win the banner a second time but to keep his squad together as striker Shari Marisol is rumored to be unhappy with the firm hand that Rajesu has on the club.

"I'm going to admit it, I haven't heard anything from her since the end of the season," Rajesu said. "I've reached out to her but no response. I expect to see her in training camp."

Rumor has it that Marisol will end up at a Sanah Ibek club where the rooters will "top" the stipend that the players on the semi-professional squads receive from the government. "Why else would a player leave a successful squad?" Reds rooter Cur-re Apar asked. "Money. These players don't make anything and if it were me, if someone waved a fistful of twis in my face, I'd take the offer."

Reporters have tried to reach out to Marisol at her home where she lives with her parents and siblings but her family denies that she is available. All claim that Marisol is out of the city, visiting relatives and far away from a telephone.

Director of Football Ratee Landee released a statement. "Above all, I request the players in the SFA to come together in a united front and to have a sense of loyalty to their teams. Players shouldn't be leaving squads for the highest bid, they should be loyal to the teams and the cities that they represent." Football Media Director Kees Raneya stated that the SFA would release no further guidelines and that the clubs could collectively police themselves.

"This means that the league will do nothing," Apar said. "I'm not paying out any more out of my own pocket to keep players here. I love the Reds, but life is tough enough."

Local 'Football Academies' Shows Promise After Grant

Across the country, a series of 'Football Academies' have started in order to teach young people the fine points of football. A grant from CAFA has provided Shrevashal with the educational materials as well as balls, nets and other equipment for holding large-scale clinics where young people can not only be taught how to play football, but how to coach and referee the sport.

The Academies were intended for students of the game ages 18 and below but special 'Adult Football Academies' have been opened for adult athletes who want to learn the sport as well as spectators who wish to know how its played.

It turns out that your local 'Football Academy' might find professors and graduate students there applying the newest techniques in artifical intelligence. "As youth football develops, one has a 'blind leading the blind' problem," Professor Farge Asand of the University of Sanah Ibek said. "How can you coach a game if you are only one step ahead of those who play it? How do you recognize the best talent? Luckily, those nations who play football have already solved this problem and we wish to compare young athletes not only with each other but with the best young athletes overseas. Even with the very limited football skills of our Academy kids, eye-hand coordination, endurance, problem solving, all of this can be checked by machine learning."

Children as young as eight years old can take part in the 'Football Academy' system but the teaching is focused to those young people between 13 and 18 years old. "We want to make an impact on the game right away," Professor Asand said. "The data from the successes and failures of our young footballers can drive the next cycle of learning in the system."

Theto Marten is a grandmother, but she has been sitting in on the lessons, watching young footballers and asking questions - even attempting to dribble a ball now and then. "My children argue if Reds should play the 4-4-2 or the 4-3-3," she said. "Now, I know what they're talking about. I think."

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[Shrevashal]

"4-0. 4-0. 4-0."

Carsya Mont-kavorne smiled, knowing full well the hammer-blows that he had delivered to the Directorate of Sanah Ibek Rail Transport. Everything about Carsya's pedigree said the right things - that Carsya was the son of Afrya Mont-kavorne (National Unity Party party deputy) and of Watru Pyandoria (daughter of the manager of an electronics concern). If you want back up to the great-grandparents you found similar connections to Shervashalu industry or finance, but Carsya's pedigree went back even further than that required by law - it stretched back to Navy of the Rebellion itself, over 200 years back, before the Final Battles or even before the National Unity Party itself.

Skifa Evarse returned a half-smile half-frown. Why the hell is the kid doing this to me?, he thought. You're on the way to a sweet job, more than most people in this country can say. And you're here pissing me off.

Evarse, like many members of the National Unity Party, were supporters of the Greens. The big hope among Greens fans was that the new Greens football club - located in the old but beloved National Arena, home to countless great moments in wrestleball, would hoist the championship banner. Things looked promising in the off season and Greens fans chuckled over Shari Marisol, the striker who had scored so many goals for the rival Reds, jumping ship to amateur club Majestic for the simple reason that she couldn't get long with Commander Rajesu, an active Shrevshal Army officer who had (seemingly on a lark) decided that what the new Reds side needed was some military discipline. Without their prime striker, Reds would clearly fall in the table, far enough so that another team -- Greens, say -- could take over.

The first game was Reds vs Majestic, the new amateur club that played at the "Sandcastle", with the home end of the stadium merged into the side of a hill. Majestic was another Theposian team, just like Reds. Marisol would be motivated to give the Reds trouble.

Instead, Reds administered a whipping. Majestic was crap, a bunch of rich talkers that spent more money on the kits and the stadium than on the club. Two minutes into the match, her replacement Oshel Chardu charged right to the Majestic goal like an arrow aimed at a target and made the first of the four Reds goals that game. After that pathetic defensive display Reds marked Marisol all game, sometimes with two players - Reds could have played shorthanded if they chose. Scary Shari never got off the ground. Majestic tightened up its defense in the first half but Reds was too much, scoring three goals in the second half almost as afterthoughts.

Following that game they pasted another amateur side, Ochabe Shore, 4-0 in their home opener. It was a more even match, the Reds scoring two goals in each half with Ochabe Shore striker Rasay Worok pulling two yellows in the back half of the game. Player/manager Nes Garete said that it was that worst that she had ever seen her young club play against anyone. Beating Pilots in the opener, Garete said, had given Ochabe Shore a false sense of confidence that they could play against clubs like Reds.

In the third game they went off to the Old Print Shop. The Bottlers played like they would be happy with a draw, but Reds fullback Mentis Garan found the net 10 minutes in and then at the 16th minute Oshel Chardu headed in a goal on a corner kick from Ikon Sout and after that, the Bottlers rooters spent most of the their time drinking and singing about next time. Reds closed 4-0 again.

Mr. Evarse knew all of that. So did Carsya. "Well, Reds hasn't played Greens yet. Look at Blues. Last year they were trash, this year? They're mid-table."

"Greens has one draw and two losses," Carsya said. "It's not going to happen. Reds is going to walk out flying the banner again. Greens is a loser squad. They are the Jalis Nanu of football teams. Nanu? She can govern, but there's something falling short every time. She does just enough to keep her job. The joke is that a foreign government shouldn't have tried to have assassinate her, they should have assassinated us instead. That's like Greens. If you're a Greens fan? You're a glutton for punishment."

"Well, better than a front runner like a Sanah Ibek kid rooting for Reds," Evarse replied.

Carsya smiled. He knew what was going to happen next.

"I tell you what," Evarse said. "When you come to work on Monday, we can make a wager on Reds-Greens. Maybe something for high stakes, huh? Say hello to your father for me."

(* * *)

"Well?" Polsi said.

Carsya turned to his girlfriend. "Guess what? I start on Monday. Working for the Rails."

Polsi reached out and took his hand. "I tried to piss him off," Carsya said, "but he wasn't having it. He read my pedigree and I was in. A wage slave."

"At least you'll have money. You told him you were a Reds fan, didn't he figure out that you were PPR?"

"No," Carsya said. "You don't have to be a PPR member to be a Reds fan."

"Well, it helps," Polsi said. "Sometimes I wish I had a nice pedigree. My pedigree is crap. People look at my ancestors and think, 'Oh, that girl ended up in the bottom, and it's the right place for her. Her parents and grandparents were nobodies.' No one is throwing a job at me, even with a good education. That's why I'm a consultant. An unpaid consultant. But the good thing about having a crap pedigree? I get to choose my own family. And the thing is? Carsya, you can choose your own family, too. If you hate your dad? 'Social cadre'."

"Yeah," Carsya said. "'Social cadre' - choose your mates as your family. Well, the Permanent Party of the Revolution talks a fine game, but I don't see a whole lot of people choosing their families and burning their pedigrees."

"Change takes time," Polsi said. "We'll make you a family, somehow. It sucks that you have to work a job that you don't want. But I want you to remember that there are people out there that would die for a job right now in our garbage economy. So if you're going to pout about it all day? If your co-workers kick your ass, I'm not going to cry any tears."

"Thanks for nothing," Carsya said.

"Well, I'm not just your girlfriend," Polsi said. "I'm family. And with family - blood or otherwise - comes hard truths. We have to take you in...but we get to give you a piece of your mind."

Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Reds                     3    3   0   0    12    0  +12     9
 2 Army                     3    3   0   0     4    0   +4     9
 3 Saints                   3    2   0   1     6    5   +1     6
 4 Gray River Heights       3    2   0   1     2    1   +1     6
 5 Ochabe Shore             3    2   0   1     6    7   −1     6
 6 Sanah Ibek               3    1   2   0     5    4   +1     5
 7 Pilots                   3    1   1   1     3    3    0     4
 8 Blues                    3    1   1   1     2    2    0     4
 9 TPC                      3    1   1   1     1    1    0     4
10 Old Print Shop           3    1   1   1     2    5   −3     4
11 Whites                   3    1   0   2     3    2   +1     3
12 Ornitor                  3    1   0   2     1    2   −1     3
13 Kanadar                  3    0   1   2     1    3   −2     1
14 Yellows                  3    0   1   2     1    4   −3     1
15 Greens                   3    0   1   2     3    7   −4     1
16 Majestic                 3    0   1   2     1    7   −6     1