[FM24] Hexagon Hijinks: Victor Oanase's Global Champions League Quest - Four Sixths sounds so much better than one third. Onwards to South America

[KibworthBull]

December 2069

The last month of the decade, a decade that started in Sint Maarten and ends in Uzbekistan.

I would like to say goodbye to Uzbekistan and Asia by the end of the 2070s. A man can dream.

Talking of dreams, or nightmares. Nasaf do us in the cup final. We dominate, they win. We haven't won it now for 3 years.

It doesn't really matter as we have become a legend, and are basically just focusing on the Champions League but it would be nice to win.

Kelvin Tembo ensures we finish 2069 with a win.

 

[KibworthBull]

February 2070

A new decade and a new mentality.

Just flipping go for it.

We've spent some cash.

£85,000 has been spent on Defensive Midfielder Jabulani Marumo who will give us good depth in that area, Uruguyian Striker Fernando Castillo has arrived for free but is on a good wage, he should score plenty domestically and I am hoping he can nick a few in the Asian Champions League, with Tembo leaving at the end of this season, we'll need someone to replace him. 

Mirjalol Rashidov is probably the best Uzbeki to come through the save, he's been the main centre-back at Paxtakor for the past 5 seasons but is still only 22. He's cost £50,000 straight up, but potentially nearly £250k. 18-year-old Spaniard Juan Gaitán has come in on a free loan from Atletico Madrid. He's rubbish but might get a game or two in the cup and hopefully, he can tick off that nation.

Moving on are:

As you can see, we are not trying to balance the budgets. We've also spent nearly £1m on improving the training and youth facilities, both should be complete by the end of the campaign.

We gave Sharjah an away goal which sticks in the claw a touch, but a double from Sarvar Rejabboyev means we take a 3-1 lead to the UAE. 

An unbelievably bad start meant at half-time we were out but, we managed to score twice in the 2nd half and we progress. Jhonnys Campuzano gets two, as does Rejabboyev.

Our bloody nemesis awaits us in the Quarters.

Victory (lol) potentially gives us a Uzbeki derby in the Semi, if Paxtakor can also get through.

We get some early goals and are able to claim another Uzbeki Cup winner - first goals for Marumo and Gatian.

 

 

[KibworthBull]

March 2070

I feel ill.

We must win the first leg. And we do.

Abou Mane (2) and Kamron Nurmatov give us an incredible 3-goal advantage.

Whilst we await the 2nd leg, we've signed a young Right Back/Centre Half from Paxtakor, Nodir Shamsiddinov - he's quite highly rated - remember the mentality. Just go for it.

We were 2-0 down at half time in Saudi, but Jacques Ndo scored twice and we are into the Semi Final.

Paxtakor lose so there is no Uzbeki Semi

There's also been a dramatic improvement in the TV money again

In the league, Fernando Castillo is off the mark as we defeat Surxon, and in his swan-song season, Kelvin Tembo scores a couple and we make it two from two for the month.

Tembo will miss the rest of the ACL campaign with injury, but he's done his job to get us there.

[KibworthBull]

April 2070

A giant intake of breath. 

This month could be huge.

Fernando Castillo grabs a hat-trick as we destroy the bottom of the table side, before an unfair Uzbeki Cup tie - away to another Super League side - we normally get dross early doors. A very flat game, but we edge it and progress.

Neftchi away in the league, just before the big one. We play a completely rotated squad. All the goals in the 2nd half but we get them all. Sardor Baratov getting us started.

Milad Kashkash gets 2 and we have a 3 goal lead to take back to Saudi Arabia. Annoyingly we missed a penalty.

More rotation for the pesky league game between the legs. Why!!!

We score 6 in the first half and manage the 2nd without incident. Fernando Castillo with more goals.

All we needed to do in Saudi, was not screw it up. And we don't. Nicely managed and we have our 2nd Asian Champions League final.

It's two legs and we are away in South Korea first

At the end of the month, we concede our first league goal of the campaign, Abou Mané takes it personally and hits 4.

Navbahor are the surprise package so far.

[KibworthBull]

May 2070

Here we go.

Nasaf are annoyingly decent so we can't rotate too much, three goals in nine second half minutes get the job done.

The work on the youth facilities has been completed, they are now considered Below Average.

Just 3 days before the Final First Leg, we travel to Bunyodkor. Stupid scheduling. We win. But we have a ready made excuse now.

We absolutely must be still in the tie after the away leg.

We led 4-0 at one point, but a terrible second means it's 5-3, only because Sarvar Rejabboyev got his hat-trick with the last kick of the game.

11 changes for the midweek league game. Laziz Rahimov is coming back from an injury and bagged a double.

In the 2nd leg, just after half-time Sarvar Rejabboyev knocked in another goal and it was PARTY TIME.

Now what?

It's time to load up the next leagues and wait for an opportunity - although for now it's about just playing some games in Uzbekistan. Nothing will happen until 2071 in any new league.

1. Afghanistan - all sides are amateur, try and fly through the list of nations we are yet to tick off
2. Peru - our choice of winning the Copa Liberatordos 

A 5th tier side in the Uzbeki Cup?

Bring it on!!

We get 10. Juan Gaitán gets the match ball but not the MoTM award.

More money behind the scenes has been put into the Youth Recruitment and the Training facilities.

It's Fernando Castillo turn for the match ball away at Paxtakor, before he gets 4 as we destroy Navbahor.

It's been quite a month.

A 9 point league after 11. Just give us the title now.

BOOM!!!

 

[corinthiano]

Congrats on finally winning the ACL!! Do you have a lot of nations in Asia left to tick off?

Peru will be fun in South America, great choice 

[KibworthBull]

17 hours ago, corinthiano said:

Congrats on finally winning the ACL!! Do you have a lot of nations in Asia left to tick off?

Peru will be fun in South America, great choice 

Thanks. I have 32 Asian nations - most of them fairly obscure, so hoping Afghanistan, which is Amateur, allows me to fly through as many as possible in a season or two - worst case scenario I will tick off Afghanistan at least.

I have a further 45 European ones, but still to tackle Europe - that's the last hurrah.

Looking at South America - it's been fairly Brazil dominant for the save with the odd random Argentina or Columbia thrown in.

[KibworthBull]

June 2070

As the Asian Champions League is complete, the focus switches to ticking off as many nations as I can before a job comes up in Peru - a nation that doesn't go live until the 1st January 2071.

So that means moving on some foreign players.

All leave with hands shaken and a place in our hearts.

• Jacques Ndo lands in Saudi for £205k and will bomb down the right wing for Al-Qadsiah Football Club
• Brayam Pino goes to Club Deportivo Popular Junior F.C. S.A. in Colombia for £250k
• Jhonnys Campuzano finally gets his move to the Middle East, £450k is a good deal for someone who would be leaving on a free in 6 months - Ohod is his destination.

To be replaced by

• Wei Wenbo, a Chinese striker on a free transfer
• Mohammad Reza Pirouzram, an Iranian Centre Back for £105k

This means I have 3 eligible nations to go for - Spain, China and Iran

Just the one league game, we win of course

[KibworthBull]

July 2070

I've been playing this save for 12 full days. It's fun.

Our Spaniard loanee has been recalled - just after I registered him for the league!

We've replaced him with a South Korean.

Uzbeki Cup to start the month as we return to some regular football this month.

There are 5 levels of difference between us and our opponents, Wei Wenbo gets a debut hattrick but not the MoTM award.

A short break for an international round and then it's back to the league as we host Qizilqum, Wenbo gets another 2 but is pipped to the award AGAIN.

There is much work to do on the nations at the minute. The plan is to pick off the bigger nations in Uzbekistan and fly through a season or two in Afghanistan and then see where we are,

Edited August 8 by KibworthBull

[KibworthBull]

August 2070

Some dropped points in the league, against Mettalurg, but it matters not as we ticked off South Korea (No.153)

Wei Wembo will approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport as he gets another couple of goals but doesn't get the MOTM award.

Joseph Klidjé has spent 12 months in Australia, and has scored on his return, a game that marked his 200th for the club. 5 scored against So'g'diyona Jizzax.

The Uzbeki Cup is frustrating yet again, a defeat on penalties. I won it 4 years on the spin, but not for 5 years.

We jumped back on the horse against Neftchi, and showed Lokomotiv Toshkent what we are, to move 12 points clear at the top.

Right at the end of the month, Saudi hit us hard and take 2 players from us.

South Korea

Edited August 8 by KibworthBull

[KibworthBull]

September 2070

First order of business. Probably for the best - allows them to hire the next best appointment and other such cliches. There will be a period of unemployment whilst I await either Peru or Afghanistan to sack a manager. I don't think I can be tempted to stay in Uzbekistan, unless there is a side with a few unticked nations that would be easy.

We have 14 more games left.

2 nations in play. China and Iran. Let's get them ticked off.

The first of these is Qu'qon, with both of my nations away at the Asian Cup.

The boys wipe away the tears and score 4 unanswered goals.

We begin our defence of the Asian Champions League at Al-Shabab, early goals, late goals, nothing much in between. We are off.

Our only real challenge to the title, Nasaf, come just 3 days later, Laziz Rahimov moves us 17 points clear. We need 1 more point to secure the title.

It could come in the last game of the month.

We hit 6 and secured our title.

 

 

 

[KibworthBull]

October 2070

10 more games over the next 3 months. I just need a MoTM award for China and Iran.

Not too much to ask is it?

An Iraqi opponent first up in the Asian Champions League, both China and Iran score but it's Syria that gets the award. 

In the league, it's the Laziz Rahimov show as he bangs a treble at Istiqlol Farg'ona

Wei Wenbo moves to 12 goals in 8 games with an Asian Champions League hat-trick, but still doesn't have that elusive award.

The last game of the month, is our final battle with Paxtakor. The last laugh is ours.

The Champions League is looking good

[KibworthBull]

November 2070

5 dances this month.

A trip to Iraq first up. Fun. 

FInally Wei Wembo is able to tick off China. He had to go to Iraq to do it.

At Navbahor, we are 4-0 up and our goalkeeper goes off injured - our 2nd choice comes on and we lose 5-4. 5 in 20 minutes.

We score 6 next time out to leave us with a +94 goal difference, we need 6 more in the final game to get +100

Fernando Castillo scores a double as we secure the clubs spot in the ACL Second Round for Mr ? next season.

We needed 6.... we got 5. So for the 2nd time we finish on +99 goal difference.

China

[KibworthBull]

December 2070

Once more my friends.

We are off to the UAE for 1 more game. 1 last chance to get Iran ticked off.

Sarvar Rejabboyev gets the winner as we finish on a high. Iran goes unclaimed.

An epic near 10 years in Uzbekistan is done.

This is where the save sits right now.

Where next?

At the moment it's either Peru or Afghanistan. Which one, time will tell.

I'll be back when that question is answered.

[KibworthBull]

March 2071

Back so soon?

Yep.

A short-term job - Samoa.

It keeps the old grey matter ticking over whilst I wait for a club job to come along. 

We are immediately in action with friendlies against Papua New Guinea and Tahiti.

We are 167th in the world, with a record position of 147th, back in 2007, so there is plenty of room for improvement.

We go down 5-4 in PNG, with Elijah Settle scoring a hat-trick. Considering they are 50-odd places higher, it's a good result.

Followed up with 3-3 draw in Tahiti.

We are performing well.

[KibworthBull]

June 2071

It's the Pacific Games

We are in Group B

We need to be competitive, whatever that might mean.

We need to win the group to get to the final, if we finish 2nd then we play for the bronze.

New Zealand U23s first, and it's as tough as it gets, a pasting, they score 6.

A few changes for the Cook Islands match, and it started well.... we took the lead but then it went south. They scored 7

Just pride left to play for against Tahiti, and we get that pride, but not the points. Jefferson Lafai scored.

An amazing result, Kane Leiataua scores the only goal as we beat New Caledonia - they are 57 places above us.

At the end, we show our dominance to destroy American Samoa, Lafai scoring 2 more.

It ended better than it started.

We came 5th, but only on goal difference

Fiji beat New Zealand 5-4 in the final.

 

Edited August 10 by KibworthBull

[KibworthBull]

September 2071

We have plenty of nations now live.

• Guam
• Yemen
• Afghanistan
• Peru

But no jobs are coming up so we continue with the Samoan journey.

Two tough friendlies away against nations around the top 100. We are competitive in both, but fall a long way short in both.

 

[KibworthBull]

October 2071

Our U23s get to the Semi Finals of the Olympic Qualifiers which we should all be proud about.

A slightly different looking senior squad for the matches against Tahiti and Kiribati - we can beat both.

Luao Paika is a left winger who was the star from the U23s. Fauivi Tokuma is a 3rd choice keeper.

Bitner Taufaga gets injured after the squad is announced so gets replaced by Andrew Petana - not close to the level of Bitner.

We are level against Tahiti going into stoppage time, but they frustrate with a late winner. Weinno Vaifale is the best performer at left back.

Kiribati are not even ranked - this was a poor result.

[KibworthBull]

November 2071

The final friendlies of 2071 - Tonga at home.

The big news is that Elijah Settle has retired from football and ended his career as the top scorer for his nation with 16 goals.

A draw to end my first year as Samoan boss

We started the job in 167th and end in 165th

12 games, 2 wins, 2 draws, and the rest were defeats. 21 goals, 32 conceded.

[KibworthBull]

March 2072

It's time for the biggie... the Oceania Nations Cup. 

We've had a youth intake for Samoa, so we've got a couple of newbies in the national squad. Joe Sefo is the best of the bunch, already an important player in the squad. 

And, as more of a squad option at the moment, Andrew Tipelu.

The 23 man squad is:

We have to top the group to progress.

We lead, we fall behind, we swear, a lot, and end up coming out just ahead of a 10-goal thriller. Sefo gets a debut goal.

Next up is the trip to the whipping boys - our American cousins.

Bitner Taufaga gets a double and we go top of the group - simply because the Cook Islands are yet to kick off.

Tonga and the Cook Islands draw 4-4, so our equation is simple - avoid defeat to Captain Cook and his boys, and we are through.

Our last game against the Islanders saw us ship 7.

We do it again, but this time, score the same amount. Sefo with an international hat-trick.

We progress. Somehow.

The 2nd Round will take place in June

 

 

 

[KibworthBull]

May 2072

We have a domestic job!

Welcome to the University of Guam Tritons

Currently sat in 3rd with just one game left of the season - which is at home to Big Blue.

Most importantly for the challenge - there are no restrictions on the squad and we are Amateur. It's time to go shopping.

We have a load of Guamese players, and a random Afghan Centre Back.

Kyle Cruz bags a hattrick to tick off Guam.

[KibworthBull]

June 2072

The focus for this month is the 2nd round of the Oceanic Nations League.

It's a 4 team group - the top 3 means we progress in the qualification of the World Cup - top 2 means we progress in the Nations League. Simples.

We are pretty much at full strength, but we have 2 defenders suspended for the opening game.

Defenders Alatasi Johnston and Tony Tanoai-Fruean are recalled to the overall squad to help see us through the initial suspensions. Bookings carry over so we could be in trouble quickly.

First up is the Soloman Islands, a mere 50 places ahead of us in the rankings. We battle to a 0-0 draw. 

A "trip" to New Calendonia followed (I say trip - all these games are being played in Tahiti) - another draw, this time 1-1 thanks to a leveller by Joe Sefo

Papua New Guinea will decide our fate. We can still finish in all 4 positions.

We faded to defeat to end our Nations League ambitions. Sefo scoring.

We also ended our involvement in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Beaten but not outclassed.

 

 

 

[KibworthBull]

August 2072

The Guam Off Season is a long one - it starts in May and ends in October so this is all about Samoa.

2 friendlies as we look to improve our records against nations local to us.

One change in the squad - Faatafa Tafola comes in from the U23s - he's 19 but not really ready but there isn't much out there at DMC.

Papua New Guinea - they beat us in the last match - but we exact revenge when it doesn't really matter. A classic 3-0 win

It moves us up to 161st which is an in-game highest - still a fair way short of the 146th from back in 2007.

Vaisigano Mataafa scored his first for his country against Vanuatu but then got sent off as we faded to defeat.

[KibworthBull]

October 2072

Both barrels!!!

An international window where we are expecting 2 wins, and then the Guamese League starts, and we are expecting nations ticked off.

With Samoa, we travel to Tuvalu and then host American Samoa. A new player in the squad, Faleahuga Dan-Tyrell is a 17-year-old keeper that people in the know rate quite highly.

Joe Sefo scores his 10th goal for his country, in only 9 caps, as we beat Tuvalu 5-0. Jarrell Magia made his debut - he's been in the squad for the last 7 or 8 games but has been getting splinters in his bottom.

He gets 2 more to see of our American friends.

And so it begins...

4 Guamese players, the rest a raggedy collection of obscure nations. All vying for that elusive tick.

29 Asian Nations on the list - 18 league games to get them in. Even the poor mathematicians amongst us know that doesn't work out, but we can look to get as close as we can.

Ko Ko Naing (so good they named him twice) scores and gets MoTM as we beat the Islanders. That's Myanmar done (No.156)

A far East double, with Cham Cheong Kwan getting 2 and the gong to tick off Macau (China PR) for No.157

[KibworthBull]

November 2072

27 Nations left to tick off in Asia, 27 nations to tick off

Play a game, tick one off, 26 nations left to tick off...

We hope.

Our opponents in the cup are Xtra Krispy. I'll let that sink in first...

Can we tick one off in the cup? Ye-man we can.... Okay, I'll stop.

Abdullah Al-Junaidi gets the award and that Yemen becoming nation #158

Before disaster - we beat Southern Cobras but a Guamese player is the star - this is not part of the script!!

After an international break which saw a lot of players jet off around the world, we returned with a 6-0 win which saw Suea Keophouvong grab a debut hattrick and tick of Laos (#159)

Beercelona (!!!) are the defending champions, but Pakistani DM Faisal Nawaz was no match for them, and we have moved into the 160s

The last game of the month, is away in the cup, to a 2nd tier Guamese side - and it's Mongolia's turn to be completed, thanks to Jamsran Purevsuren scoring from left wing in our comfortable victory.

Well placed in the league

 

[KibworthBull]

December 2072

December is a 4 game month. We can't recruit as the window is shut for these 31 days.

Hopefully we can continue to tick more nations off.

Laxman Maharjan had a very quiet first 62 minutes against Cars Plus, then went nuts. A treble and it's the first one of the night. 

We are playing some sides in the top 4 this month, but we continue to win - Tahir Khan scores twice to get the MoTM but Pakistan is already in the bag so it's a fruitless win.

We bring in 2 Indians - apparently the transfer window means nothing - before we play Shotguns (2nd vs 1st) - they don't help us as we fade to our first defeat in Guam.

After a relaxing Christmas, we travel to Frank Cable who sit bottom of the table - and it was a lovely debut for (big breath...) Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Franglin who got 2 assists and has ticked off Sri Lanka (No. 163)

After the match 17 players were released - strangely they were all players who had a nationality that we had ticked off... Can't have anymore double dipping

 

[KibworthBull]

January 2073

In the last month where we can focus domestically - there are 4 games. The first two against the same club side, but there reserves in the cup and their first team in the league.

We lose to the reserves on penalties, but Firdaus Mohd Fauzi is the star man so that's Brunei in the bag. But wait NO! He hasn't scored yet. Time to put him on penalties.

The most annoying thing is that it's fewer games in the schedule now. 

We also fail to beat there first team! Cheng Yu-wen gets 2 goals and ticks off Chinese Taipei (No.164), but bad news as our only East Timorese player damages their hip and will miss the next year.

Away at Islanders we get back to winning ways, AND Mohd Fauzi is able to score so that is (finally) Brunei ticked off for No.165.

And finally for January, it's the Southern Cobras, the victory spoiled as a Guamese player comes off the bench and nicks two goals. Barsteward.

We sit 3 points clear at the top, but 6 games over 4 months now.

Our remaining Asian Targets - some will carry over into Peru

[KibworthBull]

February 2073

We now enter the quieter months.

Just 2 league games.

We got a 2-0 win over United FC (Guam) but it was tarnished by the winner and MoTM going to a 17-year-old Guamese Striker.

FC Beercelona were the other opponents and we beat them 1-0, thanks to an inspired performance from Right Back Pema Tshering, who happily ticked off Bhutan. #166

Bhutan:

 

[KibworthBull]

March 2073

One league game - a 2-2 draw against Cars Plus.

Nothing to report on for MoTM or nations

And then we get to the international window. 2 friendlies, and a couple of new faces.

Michael Lafai is a 16 year old right back and is probably not quiet ready for this level, but he is as good as our other right back - Samuele Salanoa. At the other end of the scale, we've got Anitele'a Sauiluma who is 32 and can play either Centre Back or DM. He's decent but fading. Both could make debuts.

Against Papua New Guinea, we just can't stop conceding goals, despite scoring 3 times ourselves - Luao Paika with his first two goals at this level, we ship in 5.

Bitner Taufaga gets himself injured so un-capped Malaetala Lafi gets a call-up. It's a like for like replacement on the right hand side,

It's actually Vaisigano Mataafa who replaced Bitner in the side, and he scored the first in our 2-0 win over Dominican Replublic.

We sit 161st in the rankings.

 

[KibworthBull]

April 2073

I wrote an update, and it was glorious. Then i clicked a button and it disappeared. Balls

As a quick synopsis.

Afghanistan and Jordan are ticked off thanks to a hattrick for Ali Alamah and some assists from Mustafa Foryabee - we sit on 168 nations complete now.

 

[KibworthBull]

May 2073

I probably should have combined this into the April one - it's one game after all.

Parminder Kumar has been playing on the left wing for a few games and he finally has a good one. We beat Frank Cable 5-1 and Kumar gets two.

We were able to win the league

India

[Taunton]

Great read! Good luck chasing the remaining Champions Leagues!

[sherwinriga]

This is looking good so far! Can you share every single country's players that you signed in a complete profile on how their career going from the start until the end? I'm so excited about this, especially that Michael Badelic is from the Philippines! This is a good story that is more exciting and thrilling for sure!

[KibworthBull]

1 hour ago, Taunton said:

Great read! Good luck chasing the remaining Champions Leagues!

Thanks

 

1 hour ago, sherwinriga said:

This is looking good so far! Can you share every single country's players that you signed in a complete profile on how their career going from the start until the end? I'm so excited about this, especially that Michael Badelic is from the Philippines! This is a good story that is more exciting and thrilling for sure!

Most of the players have long since retired - to keep the game as slim-lined as possible I don't tend to keep history and only have the leagues loaded that are active now - so most of the profiles are lost to the depths of time I'm afraid. 

[KibworthBull]

June 2073

It's an international window.

As ever we have 2 games for Samoa. No changes from our last original squad.

As soon as we announce the squad, Sivamalie Felise calls and tells me he is injured so the left winger is replaced by 17 year old Andrew Tipelu

It was 1-1 going into stoppage time against the Solomon Islands, then we struck TWICE to record a fantastic victory. Bitner Taufaga celebrating his return from injury. We reach 158th in the world.

All the optimism evaporated in the first 6 minutes against New Caledonia - we were 0-3. It barely got better.

 

 

 

[KibworthBull]

August 2073

Welcome to our last Asian Season.

Whatever happens we move onto Peru, at the very latest, the end of this season. Maybe earlier. All depends on nations.

It's the Asian Confederations Cup EAST Play-Off Zone Legs 1 and 2.

We can only use a maximum of 6 Foreign players - we have a few more than 6 in the squad.

Thankfully we can register them all, we need to be a bit selective on match day.

Our Palestinian winger scored, but we faded to a home defeat. They are professional side so have 5 days a week to train, and are paid for the privilege.

A man of the match performance from Alto Keryer moves us a step closer to completing Malaysia - it also helps turn around the tie and we progress. East Timor scored for us.

Victory means we have 6 more games to play at least.

No shocks In the international set up

We host Guyana first up. Bitner Taufaga puts in a captains performance with 2 goals and we win. Huzzah! And we improve to 156th in the world.

We make plenty of changes for the trip to Micronesia. Andrew Tipelu scoring his first for his country in an easy 3-0 win. Right Winger Malaetala Lafi and Keeper Faleahuga Dan-Tyrell both make their debuts. They've been in the squad a while but have been judges (long time sitting on bench...)

[KibworthBull]

September 2073

It's Group Stage time.

2 matches.

So 2 chances of ticking off a nation.

Ching Fung are from Macau (China), and it's fair to say we are expected to do well.

Alto Keryer goes one better than last time - he gets his 2nd MoTM and a goal. That's Malaysia folks. #170

We've been turned down by every North Korean in the game, so we go behind their wall to play a side from that mysterious nation in our 2nd game. We return with a victory, a sense of being watched, and the knowledge that Turkmenistan is done. Alexandr Hojowow scored and got the MoTM award. Boom!!! (maybe not the best choice of buzz word)

2 wins from 2. Lovely stuff.

Malaysia:

Turkmenistan

[KibworthBull]

October 2073

The luxury of an unchanged squad. I'll avoid any comments about lack of depth...

Both opponents are 50 odd places higher up the rankings than us, but both are beatable.

And they were in pretty much identical fashion. 6 different scores across the 2 games. We hit new heights at 154th

We've had international success, can we also get domestic success?

And continental. It's all going OFF THE HOOK!!!

Sadly we got the wrong number in Hong Kong - Easterns hit us for 5. 

Considering how close Tajikstan and Uzbekistan are, it's surprising it's taken me this long to get Tajikstan, but it's been a long journey - we've had a few in the intake but none good enough. It's taken a move to Guam to get Umedjon Rasulov and his double in the league opener moves us onto 172

Nations are getting harder now - we've pretty much exhausted the list of players who would want to join us, so it means we have to play locals, and they sometimes nick the honour.

Lai Yun Hing gets the gong against Quality Distributers (yes really) - mainly for some good passing and an assist which is ironic. Thats our 173rd nation.

Victory over Beercelona means we are 2 from 2 in the league.

Tajikstan

Hong Kong

[KibworthBull]

November 2073

It's an eclectic bunch that hosted North Korean opponents in the Asian Confederation Cup - we sneak through 2-1. Nothing to report on the nations sadly.

3 Indonesians and a Iranian are bought into the squad for the league match against Shotguns. And it's a debut double for Irvan Saleh who ticks off Indonesia. 

After an international break, it's back to league action, but a Guamian Striker takes the plaudits. Boo!!

Ching Fung are seen off in the Confed Cup - another MoTM award for Hong Kong - this one less well celebrated.

We end the month with a goalless draw. Nothing to report.

Just the one change for our last international window of the year. Edwin Lagaaia comes in for Kane Leiataua who has retired from football.

We take a 2 goal lead against Barbados but cannot hold onto it, and have to settle for a draw. We always seem to see goals in games against Papua New Guinea - this one had 7, and again we threw away a lead, but managed to claw a winner out of it. A positive end to the year. 

Indonesia

[KibworthBull]

December 2073

1st game of the month, 1st defeat of the season. BOG Strykers put us to the sword.

If we are to continue our Asian Confederations Cup journey then we must beat Easterns at home, we led going into injury time but a last gasp equaliser means that this journey must come to an end.

And indeed the Guam journey.

A club in Peru came up and I took the interview but they wanted me to start immediately. So I have decided to do so.

20 nations were done in Guam. I haven't completed Asia yet and there are one or three there that I wish I could tick off but it's time.

They are in the 2nd tier of Peru.

The only instruction at the moment is avoid relegation. We finished 8th out of 12.

It's the off season so let's pick this back up when we are next playing some games

[KibworthBull]

March 2074

Welcome to Peru...

Oh wait.

It's an international break, so it's Samoa time.

We've had the youth intake since the last time we checked in for Samoa, and we've had very little come in. Just one new name - a potential future option at either Right Back or Centre Back - he's 1 star and 17 right now, but has that always reliable 5 star potential. Ladies and Gents, it's Tauati Gosche

As soon as we confirmed the squad, first choice Right Back Michael Lafai pulled out so Sulu Teveli comes in - he's 16 and not quiet as good as Gosche, but another who might become a Samoan Strength in years to come.

New Caledonia help us see in the new year - Jefferson Lafai struck twice in the first half to give us victory - the 32 year old has now got 12 in 52 caps - i believe that 16 is the national record. But as Joe Sefo has 15 and is only 19, I don't think Jefferson will have it long, if he ever gets there.

It's 7 games unbeaten and 153rd in the world - both are records.

Against Tahiti, Andrew Tipelu had the game of his life - 2 assists and he got the opener.

Up to 151st in the world.

 

[KibworthBull]

May 2074

Regular football returns with (checks notes...) 1 match this month.

But it's our first in Paddington's home country.

We've been relatively busy in the nearly 5 whole months we've been here.

A load of Peruvians have come in - most of them midfielders. Francisco Romero (Left Wing) and Brandón Carrascal (Right Wing) should create plenty. Defensive Midfielders Bryan Gonzales, Eduardo Cotrina, and Ginaluca Espinoza will add some much-needed depth, in truth Espinoza will be the main cog. Oscar Villacorta is a Prem standard Left Back who has decided to slum it in the 2nd tier. Luis Gomez and Mazen Abuaker add depth on the right wing. Abuaker has followed me from Guam and is the "in-play" Palestinian, but he is injured for a few months so don't expect anything there.

Cesar Guzman and Francesco Baioni will hopefully fire the goals to see us promoted.

In terms of the long awaited start - Phil Backside, or to give him his Peruvian name Felipe Arce gets a double and we have a win.

 

[KibworthBull]

June 2074

It always feels like life takes over whenever I get to a new country and I don't have time to play. But tonight I do.

The press seem convinced that we will be successful this year, and to be honest, so do I.

César Guzmán celebrates his debut with a hat-trick and we make it 2 from 2.

Carlos Stein sounds like they should be playing, and not our next opponent, but they are. And we smash 5 unanswered goals to go top.

The transfer window re-opens and we strengthen with Maxime Obekop coming in - he's a Centre Back who can also play Right Back.

Our current right back, Kelvin Muntari, was the star man as we made it 4 from 4 - maybe he got the hint - he's already told me he wants to leave though, so maybe he's trying to impress.

Another 5 goals, another 5 goalscorers although Guzman ended the month as he started it, with some champagne.

Everything looking rosy

[sherwinriga]

This looks good so far! I hope that you'll expect to complete the challenge at any time that you want! By any chance for the complete FIFA World Rankings at your current save? I want to see how changes happened when you're starting this save and how the competitions would be looked like in 50 years!

[KibworthBull]

July 2074

The transfer window is closed. No further additions were required.

Francisco Romero made light work of CNI and Llacuabamba with back-to-back MoTM awards.

The board have agreed to put £240k into the Youth and Training facilities, which is very nice of them. Both of them are currently considered Poor.

Our Palestinian Right Winger scores early and puts in a fine display to make it nation number 175 against Sport Ancash. He's also the 13th player to play for me across 2 clubs.

10 games played, 10 wins. 2 goals conceded. We'll be playing top-flight football next season. 

It's not mathematically certain but I can't see it falling apart.

Palestine

 

[KibworthBull]

August 2074

Phillip Bottom scores twice as we continue our winning run. Another 5 goals scored.

The 2nd tier of Peruvian football is not challenging. I suspect the 1st tier might not be too difficult - this isn't the challenge - the challenge will be winning the South American Champions League (or the Copa Libertadores as it's more widely known)

3 further wins make it 14 from 14

There are just 8 games left of the season, we have already secured a play-off place, but only now need 10 points from the remaining 24 for the title.

Next month it's Samoa's turn to get some focus. We face New Zealand and Fiji in friendlies - two very tough tests. Cameron Chretien is a striker who had a very good U19 qualifying campaign so has been pushed into the main squad. He's only 17 and is very much one for the future.

 

[KibworthBull]

September 2074

I'm on the verge of an achievement. 

4 wins this month will mean that I will have won a league title in South America, the 5th continent that this will have been achieved.

A trip to Mannucci sees us concede more goals in 90 minutes than we have in the entire season before today, thankfully we score 6. Guzman with a treble.

The focus then moves onto Samoa.

We've never beaten New Zealand. We have never really been able to get close to their U23s. The positive is that we scored twice. The negative is that 2 of their boys did that and more. A good test for us.

6,032 was a record attendance so that's another positive.

Fiji are the 2nd best nation in Oceania, and where I started this challenge. I expect to lose again. And when the 2nd Fijian goal thundered into our net, my expectations were met. But we rallied and Joe Sefo brought us level with one of the last kicks of the game.

We are now in the world's top 150.

15 straight wins against the side with 0 wins all season was probably only going to end one way. Francisco Romero gets a hat-trick as we hit 8.

Another 4 goals from loanee César Guzmán gives us the title.

A loanee not for much longer

I'm not saying the boys enjoyed the celebrations of winning the title but there were a lot of sore heads and we lost the next game. Missing 3 defenders from suspension probably didn't help.

That one bit of red is annoying but doesn't matter

[KibworthBull]

October 2074

2 extremely winnable friendlies for Samoa at the start of the month.

The only change in the squad is a return for Vasisigano Mataafa after injury, so we are full strength.

The next day Joe Sefo informs us he is injured and pulls out, to be replaced by Samuelu Feiloaiga from the U19s.

Sulu Teveli is off the mark for his nation and we got the first win we wanted. We even had the luxury of missing a penalty. 2 records achieved.

Both players mentioned are part of my current squad, so this will likely flip-flop between them.

We are also 148th in the world.

We get a draw against the Solomon Islands - they equalised late. Debuts were given to Cameron Chrétien and Samuelu Feiloaiga.

Anitele'a Sauiluma has announced he is to retire at the end of the season - he has made 10 caps, mainly from the bench, but has been involved in most squads since his debut in 2073.

On the domestic front, it was normal service. Daniel Salinas got MoTM in both games.

 

 

[KibworthBull]

November 2074

Just the one league game, a relatively tame 1-0 win.

The 2nd tier didn't hold any fear

And just one international game. Just the one change, Joe Sefo is still not fit, but Pualele Talia is and he comes back in.

We were in truth, lucky to get a draw out of it

It means we end the calendar year in 148th in the world.

 

[KibworthBull]

February 2075

We have returned for another season and it's been a busy summer.

Plenty of departures. Arce, Marquez and Barboza were regulars but were all out of contract and probably not quite good enough for the top flight. Abuaker was a FGN player who did his bit, and Muntari was someone who wanted to leave from the moment I arrived. I wont take it personally. 

Coming in is some decent talent (I would say that though)

Moses Mathebula will be the keeper this season and the reason Barboza was let go. In Defence, we have strengthened with Ecuadorian Manuel Ávila in the middle and Freddy Medina  on the right hand side. Ahead of them will be leader Bryan Neyra and youngsters Alberto Quiróz and Yordy Caballero in that DM role, and on the wing Luis Quincho has come in on a free.

Up front both Ndumba Mubili and César Guzmán should score plenty.

We've got to give U20s a total of 810 minutes across the season or be deducted 3 points for every 90 minutes we are below that threshold. Only a total of 180 minutes per match will be considered. Not 100% sure on how this works so have signed a few more young uns than needed. Thankfully Mubili is included and he will play most weeks.

In the nations challenge, we have a Japanese player now - Satoshi Nakano - he was with us last season as a Peruvian with Japanese 2nd nationality but has switched over the winter.

We start with a 0-0 draw at home to Cristal, and then an away 0-0 draw. Consistent

Goals are like buses... you wait 180 minutes for 1 and you get 5 in 90. 4 of them for us. 

Just before the transfer window, and the month closes, we signed Leandro Gamarra as a back-up keeper.