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The Valiant Escape - September 2023 My dear Valiants, you will remember the name of Victor Oanase. If not you'll certainly remember THE match. It's been talked about so much it would be futile to run through it again. I've taken it upon myself to try and track him down for the Valiant Escape pages but sadly have so far drawn a blank. All I can tell you is that he is in Fiji. I've found the below article in the Fiji Breeze Tribune from September of last year which shows our man still exists. I've tried all known forms of communication to try and speak to him, or even find out if he is still there.. So far I've ran a blank. "Victor Oanase's Rakiraki Soars to Promotion in First Season In a surprising turn of events, Victor Oanase's Rakiraki team defied the odds and clinched promotion to the Fijian top flight in their very first season in the Vodafone Senior League - Viti Levu Zone. The journeyman footballer turned manager worked his magic, taking his side from a strong start to a nerve-wracking finish in a rollercoaster debut campaign. The Rakiraki squad, previously an underdog in the league, showed immense character and determination under Oanase's guidance. They kicked off the season with gusto, catching the attention of fans and pundits alike with their exhilarating performances. However, the team's form fluctuated over the course of the season, creating nail-biting moments for the Rakiraki faithful. Ultimately, it was in the playoffs where Rakiraki truly shone. They won a staggering five out of six playoff matches, displaying resilience and composure when it mattered most. This impressive feat secured their place in the upper echelons of Fijian football. Sikeli Sagatoro was undoubtedly the shining star of Rakiraki's campaign. At just 21 years old, Sagatoro displayed incredible versatility by excelling both as an attacking midfielder and a striker. His prolific goal-scoring form with 12 goals was instrumental in the team's promotion. 10 of the goals were in the last 9 games of the season - he scored and broke a toe on his debut so it could have been even better. His strike partner Vishal Nair topped the charts with 13 goals - at a more sedate pace - across the season rather than loaded on either end. Vilive Naulalevu had a standout season as FIji's reliable defender. Often the sole experienced defender, he shone brightly. His performance against Northland Tailevu, where he scored, played exceptionally, and earned Man of the Match, epitomized his crucial role in the team's success. Impressive season overall. This ticked off Fiji as the first nation, with Mau Penisula ticking off Tuvalu later in the season Victor Oanase's debut season as manager has certainly left an indelible mark on the Fijian football scene. The supporters of Rakiraki can now look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as they make their mark in the top flight." So My Valients, this is all I've found on that world wide web about Victor - that is printable... I will keep searching.

Reserved for Achievements - as of the end of Season Six Honours List: Continental: Oceanic Champions League: 2025,2026,2027 Fiji: Premier Division: 2024,2026,2027 FA Cup: 2024,2025,2026 Battle of the Giants: 2024,2026,2027 Inter-District Championship: 2024,2026,2027 Champions v Champions : 2025,2026,2027 Nations Achieved Fiji Tuvalu Solomon Islands Papua New Guinea Nicaragua Tonga Tahiti Congo Vanuatu French Guiana New Caledonia Samoa Mozambique Panama Zambia Cook Islands Vietnam Senegal American Samoa New Zealand

The Cast... Victor Oanase Date of Birth: January 15, 1975 Nationality: Dutch and Surinamese Playing Position: Midfielder Early Career: Victor Oanase was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, in 1975. He moved to the Netherlands at a young age and developed a passion for football. He began his youth career with a local club in Rotterdam, where his family had settled. As a teenager, he caught the attention of scouts and was signed by a top-flight Dutch side, FC Groningen, in 1992. FC Groningen (1992-1995): Although he showed promise in the youth teams, Victor never made it to the first team at FC Groningen and was released in 1995. What followed was a nomadic career that took him across several continents and numerous clubs, but he never quite settled at any top-tier club. His journey saw him playing for 14 different clubs in various countries, as he searched for the right fit and the opportunity to shine. Clubs (in chronological order): FC Groningen (1992-1995) TSV 1860 Rosenheim (1995-1996) Atlas Guadalajara (1996-1998) Port Vale FC (1998) Chonburi FC (1998-1999) Halmstads BK (1999-2000) Bloemfontein Celtic FC (2000-2001) Shenyang Dongjin (2001) SV Mattersburg (2001-2002) Shillong Lajong FC (2002-2003) Bohemians 1905 (2003) Al-Khaleej Club (2003-2004) Universitario de Sucre (2004) Degerfors IF (2004) During his career, Victor Oanase played nearly 300 professional matches, showcasing his versatility as a midfielder. However, his frequent transfers prevented him from establishing a long-term connection with any particular club. Retirement and Transition: In 2004, at the age of 29, Victor Oanase decided to retire from professional football. He returned to his roots in Suriname and transitioned into a scouting role for one of the top clubs in the country, S.V. Robinhood. During this period, he used his vast experience in football to identify and nurture young talents. Managerial Aspirations: After several years of scouting and mentoring young players, Victor Oanase decided to take the next step in his football journey. He pursued coaching qualifications and began managing youth teams at S.V. Robinhood. His goal was to cut his managerial teeth and eventually work his way up to coaching at the senior level, with dreams of one day leading the Surinamese national team to success on the international stage. Victor Oanase's career, though characterized by its nomadic nature, exemplified his unwavering passion for football and his dedication to contributing to the sport even after hanging up his boots. Matthew Clarke Occupation: Journalist Location: Stoke-on-Trent, England Matthew Clarke is a seasoned journalist based in Stoke-on-Trent, a city known for its rich footballing heritage. Born and raised in this football-crazy town, Matthew's passion for the sport runs deep, and he has made a name for himself as one of the go-to journalists for all things related to football. Matthew holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from a prestigious university, where he honed his writing and reporting skills. His coursework included sports journalism, which fueled his ambition to cover the beautiful game professionally. A Valiant Escape Blog: Matthew is a prominent contributor to the "A Valiant Escape" blog, a popular online platform dedicated to football. His insightful articles and in-depth analysis have earned him a dedicated following among fans of the sport. Local Newspaper: Before venturing into online journalism, Matthew gained valuable experience working for a local newspaper in Stoke-on-Trent. He covered various local events and gained a reputation for his meticulous research and compelling storytelling. Football Correspondent: Matthew's reporting on football has been a highlight of his career. He has had the privilege of interviewing football legends, managers, and players, providing fans with exclusive insights and behind-the-scenes stories. Aside from his love for football, Matthew is a self-proclaimed foodie who enjoys exploring Stoke-on-Trent's culinary scene. He's also a collector of vintage football memorabilia and enjoys attending local music gigs in his spare time. Matthew is known for his friendly and approachable demeanor. He takes great pride in being a part of the Stoke-on-Trent community and values the connections he has forged with fellow football enthusiasts over the years. Matthew loves Victor and the memory of his solitary game lives long. One day he may meet his hero, but should you ever meet your heroes?

The information provided in the story below is entirely fabricated and should not be considered factual or accurate in any way. Any resemblance to real individuals, events, places, or organizations is purely coincidental. This content is generated for entertainment and creative purposes and should not be used as a source of information, reference, or guidance. The content has been created through a combination of AI and my own brain. Victor Oanase, a name etched forever in Port Vale's history, became an instant cult hero with one unforgettable performance. In a Vale shirt, Victor's journey was short lived. One appearance, 62 minutes on the pitch, the only two things of note that he ever did were a near post flick with his head that scored the goal that relegated Stoke City from Division One and in the subsequent celebration/mele, a right hook to a member of the Stoke City coaching staff that put the unfortunate man on his back. This created the legendary terrace chant “When the ball hits the goal, and the manager falls, that's Oanase”. The legacy lasts far longer than his time on the Potteries. What is the idea of the save? Central to this challenge is our manager Victor Oanase, A journeyman former footballer who had very much a chequered history will attempt to complete several different challenges within the save they are listed below. The main part is the hexagon challenge – this is winning the Champions League on all 6 continents, BUT Victor is going to countries that have never won the Champions League before. So, Finland rather than France, Israel rather than Italy, etc, etc. The save will be chronicled in season-long reviews from the viewpoint of a journalist called Matthew Clarke who is a Port Vale fan he is part of a Port Vale blog called “A Valiant Escape” and Oanase is a cult hero – for reasons explained above. The updates will be one per season chronicling what has gone in the past, to give a flavour what's happened in the latest part of the journey for Oanase. Matthew hopes that one day he may get to spend some time with Victor, but Victor prefers the sword to the pen. That is a story for another day. As a player, Victor very much did things differently. A person who played to his own beat, run to his own tune, or whatever cliche you want to use. Victor was that guy who was often on the wrong end of a misunderstanding or an argument, he fell out with most people along his journey that's why he had so many clubs in a short space of time, he was the archetypal person who could argue in an empty room. We can define the other parts of this challenge by the acronym LSD – no, not the hallucinogenic drug Lysergic acid diethylamide (commonly known as LSD), although that is again with Victor, another story for another day. We are talking about Loyalty, Success, and Diversity. LOYALTY Loyalty is Important - Victor never got this from his managers, but he wants to be the guy that takes players on the journey with him, can he get a player to play for him at 3,4,5,6 clubs? SUCCESS Legendary Status in every Continent Winning 30 Domestic Cups Winning 20 Domestic League Titles This means sticking around for some time, again not a Victor strength, but becoming a legend in each continent. Domestic domination whilst building a Champions League-winning side? DIVERSITY A player from every playable nation, playing, scoring, and getting man of the match. 100 appearances from a player in every Continent 100 goals from a player in every Continent Football is a world game so bringing people together from around the globe to try and get these. There are 227 nations in the (playable) world of football, so there are many players to scrabble around and bring into this narrative. Some will play a little, some will play a lot, so there is something for everyone here. Capable of doing amazing things and things of sheer stupidity. One of his former wives, of which there have been a few, described him as “not a bad boy, just someone who made bad decisions”. Is this challenge just another of Victor’s bad decisions? Time will tell.

July 2031 It feels dirty, but we've lost our 100% win record right at the end of the Opening Stage. Away to the side 19th in the table. 2-0 and cruising and we end up with a point. Some of the new blood was playing as well. The same team put in a much better showing a few days later. 5 of the best. We topped the Opening Stage by 15 points I'll be honest, the domestic side of this challenge is not taxing right now. We will win the Closing Stage and then it's about the Copa Lib next year - how far can we get? We've also trimmed some of the undesirable fat from the squad We are looking fairly lean now. But the board are quite happy to try and sell our star man to a side at our level? Fortunately, Josue saw sense and rejected them. I would have resigned! Deadline Day... They did it again... But again, Josue saw sense... 3rd time lucky?? Different Club? Same Outcome? The board only have itself to blame.. My time in Venezuela is done. I didn't get anywhere near the Champions League part of the challenge but is probably beyond this save, but did do enough to complete the nation. It's time to move to our next country...

June 2031 We can, and more importantly, should win the Opening Stage this month. We need two points and we have two games to get them. Second bites of the cherry are not required in these parts. Not when you have Josue Gutierrez, the double that secured everything moved him to 19 from 21 for this season and a total of 70 from 71 games—a machine for the level. Right at the end of the month, we played again. Luis Castro (Y) turned pro on the morning of the game and celebrated with his first goal. It's taken him 4 games but he's now the 2nd choice striker behind the machine. Centre Back Felipe Piñero (Y) also made his pro debut. Between matches, we've been busy in the transfer market. A foreigner out, Maksym Bomashchuk has chased the money and been stolen from us for £76k - damn release clauses. He's doubled his wages overnight. And a Venezuelan out, Pedro Álvarez has become a periphery figure this year, so I've allowed the 31-year-old DMC to join Deportivo Tachira. Wilson Barrios was out of contract in the summer but the lure of the Saudi dollar proved too much, near enough £100k and he's off to Al-Faisaly. Wilson is 30, so I am not unhappy with the deal. Coming in is 2 foreigners, so we have maxed out our slots Idris Moses is a 21-year-old Nigerian International who can play either at Left Back or Left Midfield. He'll play in defence. He's come on a free transfer. Another freebie, Ivorian, Aubin Fofana is a DMC from ASEC Mimosas. 21 and already with 3 national team caps. He's our best DMC by far. We've also signed a local lad, with an Italian passport as well, Graziano Ruggieri is a Central Defender from Caracas, £50k now, another £550k over the next 3 years. The new additions join in July when the window opens.

May 2031 3 games, all of them away from home. Our fans won't see us in our ground until June. Gerardo Terán (Y)'s fan club continues to grow after a double against Guanare, he has just turned 17 and has 4 in 12 from AMC now. Kept telling the boys on the flight to Argentina that it was a must-win. We didn't get a shot on target and lost... knocked out in the Group Stages. Frustratingly a victory would have seen us through as results went our way. Alas not to be. Back to league action and our 15th straight win means we have all but secured our Opening Stage title.

April 2031 Academia Ray in last place in the league come to our house for the first game of the month, it's been picked for a match where tickets are given away for free in the community, so I am expecting a big crowd. Who are expecting a big result! Josue Gutiérrez grabbed 4 and we grabbed 7 and we move on to BOT, and a trip to Brazil. We led twice and returned with nothing. We are nowhere near ruthless enough for the level yet. Our time will come - I hope. A record 12 straight league wins were achieved when Tachira came to town - we shall win this stage at a canter. I'm trying to rotate and rest as much as I can in the league to give us as many chances as possible in the Copa Lib. We host Universidad de Chile in a 10000% must win. Even victory may not be enough. Óscar Conde, who may be playing in the MLS in the near future, scores the only goal of the game, and it means we have to go to Argentina next month and get a result and hope that Universidad don't win in Brazil Unbeaten domestically again. Gerardo Teran improves with every game. We sit 13 clear of the chasing pack.

March 2031 A busy month is March. The Copa Libertadores swings into action and there are league games interspersed between them. UCV first up, and our reserves batter them, scoring 7 first-half goals. Ade Oguns celebrated his Venezuelan passport with 2 goals and an assist. Rosario Central will prove to be a much sterner test. Managed by Carlos Tevez which is nice. They "escape" with a draw... we escape with £275k in gate receipts. We had to go full strength again against Zamora, who sat 2nd in the league, a victory that justified the selections, before the flight to Chile and our next game in the Copa Lib. We huffed and puffed but couldn't blow their houses down. Joseph Mbom saw red and we lost. A complete reshuffle of the pack for the needless league game before BOT of Brazil came to town, a last-gasp winner from Saimon Ramírez keeps our 100% record going, he's had a slow start to the season so a double here has boosted the average rating somewhat. We lose 2 fullbacks to injury for the next few weeks. The sickening display against BOT - we led 2-0 thanks to Josue Gutiérrez's 10th of the campaign but they pegged us back in the 94th minute. We won't qualify on our away form. Taking the positives. A long month of games, so who really needs a 2nd v 1st match to end it? Thankfully our defence is very good AND Josue Gutiérrez knows where the goal is... Top by a distance domestically. A lot of work left to do on a Continental Scale

February 2031 The transfer window is open until the end of February round here so plenty of chances to get some more players In and Out. The In's were minimal.. José Navas is a DMC from Universidad Central de Venezuela who is better than the ones I signed in the summer, and the ones already at the club. He cost £100k straight off the bat with another £400k over the next 3 years. The Outs were a bit busier but nothing crazy, Bryan Martínez, a backup striker has dropped a level to join Zulia - he played 1 game last season. Robert Millán is an interesting Right Winger, 5* potential, but needs game time. He's joined a 2nd tier side for the season. Petare dropped by and departed on the back of a 2-0 which saw a debut for Gerardo Terán (Y), our 16-year-old big hope, that he turns into a big star AMC - part of the reason I am happy not to strengthen the AMC area too much is to give him some chances from the bench. Caracas also visited us in February, they are expected to be around the top at the end of the campaign, another 2-0 in our favour. Maksym Bomashchuk ended the month as a man possessed - 4 goals - that's from a player who normally gets a couple or maybe 3 a season. He has them in 180 minutes. And both of them in less than 5 minute spells during games - when he's hot he's smoking! It's us and Bobby Zamora's side unbeaten at the top

January 2031 Welcome to 2031... Transfers: José Di Maio fits the model perfectly - a young player who can still improve and is also quite good. Molleja did alright last year but Di Maio is just better in every way. He cost £750k so it is our record signing under my watch, from Deportivo La Guaira who came 2nd last year. He's the 2nd choice for the National Side and has 3 caps to his name. I couldn't get a better Venezuelan keeper. I really needed greater depth in the DM area - we play with 2 and have done since Cameroun if it ain't broken... Luis León was snapped up from relegated Yaracuyanos thanks to a generous release clause - we paid £52k. He's got 5* potential and will get opportunities, our issue last season was that we had 3 options and at times with injuries and suspensions, we were trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Luis is good enough to be given chances. Guilmer Giro was released by Portuguesa Fútbol Club who got a play-off place and he was a key member of that squad, he'll do a job for me for this season and probably next but I need to find someone really good to come in - possibly from abroad. I have a vacant foreign space now so the scouts are out there. The out tray has been busier but it's still not been hectic. 3 kids who were never good enough and have joined lower graded sides, and Angel Gonzalez who has gone to one of the midtable sides. Angel was our American dual national, he did a decent backup option, and had told me he was leaving at the end of his deal - end of the season - so offered him out and snapped up the cash. Our squad is good enough to win this league and that's my expectation. I am heavily scouting the national players as there is a lot of decent talent out of the country, and maybe I can convince one of them to come back. As mentioned, I am also looking to fill that vacant FGN spot - either a DM or AM. This season will be all about seeing how far we can go in the Copa Libertadores. We've gone straight into the group stages and we nearly know the group. We kicked off our season with one game this month. Josue Gutiérrez carried on where he left off with a double and Giro got a debut goal. We are top after 1... I won't put the table in... I'm sure you will understand.

December 2030 Let's hope there are more than 1 game to talk about this month. Pedro Álvarez playing with half a knee scores the only goal of the game and we are into the final. A big deep breath. We get 3 days before the 1st leg Alvarez with a penalty gives us the advantage but they peg us back in the 2nd half. Orlando Sanabria will miss the 2nd leg with suspension. We didn't need Orlando... A simply sensational victory It's easy to see who was the star man

November 2030 Last 2 games. Petare at home, they are 16th. We play on Sunday so know exactly what we need - a win. We are at full strength. And it shows with a dominant display which secures 1st place in the overall league - not that appears to matter. APC are Academia Puerto Cabello, and also our opponents in the final game. We must avoid a 6-0 defeat. A pretty and sweet 2-2 does the business. I'm claiming this as a 25pt win for me in the challenge. If we win the playoffs that will give us the League Title. Estudiantes de Mérida, over two legs. Cagey, Low Key, Dull. 1-1 in the away leg, Wilson Barrios with the equaliser, his 10th of the campaign. At one point in the return leg we were 1 down.. but whilst we have Josue Gutiérrez we have goals, and he scored goals 47, 48 and 49 of the season to secure safe passage. Maksym Bomashchuk wasn't scored for his goalscoring prowess, but thankfully he wore his shooting boots (they were both headers) in the 1st Leg of the Semi-Final. A 94th-minute winner gives us a slight advantage for the 2nd leg.

October 2030 I've finally been able to convince the board to spend some money on the training ground. It's half our of money, but if we are to compete at the highest level, we need to max out everything. They've said no for months. Yaracuyanos are almost relegated, so we HAVE to win. And we do. Caracas drop a point so we have gained twice. We play Caracas in a winner probably takes the Closing Stage situation. Just rewards for our 40-goal man.. although he didn't feature. Onto Caracas.. Our International, not picked, man of mystery saves our bacon with a late leveller. It's a result that is better for us than them. We were always in control in the last game of the month 2 games left in the Closing Stage Briefly mentioned last month, but it's a very promising intake all round

September 2030 A 3 games month, a big crunch match in the middle of two games we should win. Away at Deportivo Lara, 0-2 playing against 10 men and they miss a penalty - we got out with a draw so feels like a win. A defeat always feels like a defeat, especially when you the better side, but Deportivo La Guaria knick the only goal of the game. Our lead is slipping away A draw in the final game of the month means our lead is just 2 points Estudiantes de Mérida were the ones that held us at the end. Whatever happens, we will be in the Play-Off mix but I would like to win a stage We had youth intake and it was rather good, led by the impressive AMC Gerardo Terán (Y) who has some extremely nice basics to work from. True, he's got work to do but don't we all.

August 2030 Last month focused on the ins, now we focus on the outs at the end of the window. 2 keepers (Parra and Castro), both had opportunities but neither excelled. Davilla and Gonzalez at one stage looked like they both had real potential but neither has progressed. Lots of games in August, so that means rotation. Ángel González made a rare start up front and scored the final goal in the win over Rayo Zuiliano Deportivo Tachira is a much tougher fish. A 2-0 win and they sacked their manager on the back of it. It's nice that the squad are stepping up and scoring goals, Wilson Barrios with the double to beat Dynamo Puerto. Monagas are bottom, two goals just before halftime, and a professional display in the 2nd half allowed us our 7th straight win - a new record for the club. Carabobo is our derby - the Classico del Centro, and an early own goal gave us the boost we settled it in the 2nd half, but Joseph Mbom picked up another injury, our star right back just can't get fit at the moment. 6 more days in the month, and 3 more games. We need rest. We have Josue Gutiérrez, yet another treble, to bring up his 30th of the season saw off Portuguesa. Only 1 goal had been conceded this month before the UCV game, so naturally, we became like a sieve and let in 2, but scored 4. Another example where our defeated opponents sack their manager right away. So close to a flawless month. Zamora actually led until late where we nicked a point. We've secured a play-off place overall and have a good lead at the top of the Closing Stage A personal milestone as I become fully qualified

July 2030 A transfer window has opened, and possibly even a door or two. We've strengthened Óscar Conde joins from mid-table Metropolitanos where he's been a regular for the past 5 seasons. He's cost £225k, but a lot of that is in instalments. He's played once for the national side so shows his pedigree. We needed something extra on the wing and Saimon Ramírez promises to be just that. He's cost £49k from 2nd tier Zulia, but he's got a lot of experience in the top tier. Both of these signings are short-term improvements, rather than long-term. We can potentially win the opening stage of the competition with a victory over Petare. So naturally, we lose. Conde scores on debut. It's a 3 way for the title... Josue Gutiérrez got a hattrick to give us the win we needed, but all the eyes were on Deportivo, they needed a win or we would have some silverware. They win, so we settle for 2nd. The Closing Stage of the comp gets underway in style, 5 of the best against Metropolitanos. More Gutiérrez magic gives us a 2nd CS win. We are starting to open up a gap going into August, where there is a lot of football to be played

June 2030 It's nearly time for the summer break. One match before a 40-day break. I've signed a new 2-year deal which the fans have celebrated like a goal. 3 goals in 11 proved that Club Deportivo Hermanos Colmenárez were already on the beach. It means we go into the break at the top of the table. The Star of the opening stage of the season has been Josue Gutierrez 24 goals in 24 games, he's also young enough that he can still improve.

May 2030 The first game of the month, home to the Brazilian SEP - not sure how, but a fantastic 3-0 win. The attendance doubled our previous best, which was only set last month. Between SEP and San Lorenzo was a poor league draw. This month will destroy some players as the games come thick and fast. Talking of destroying, that's exactly what San Lorenzo does to us. We took the lead through AMC Orlando Sanabria but then they got into the game and didn't end well. Josue Gutiérrez took his seasonal tally to 20 with a treble in the victory against very lowly Yaracuyanos Back to Copa Sudamericana action and the return match with San Lorenzo, again we take the lead, and again we let them back in and allow them to take the win. Caracas are in 2nd, whilst we are top, so a 2-2 draw is a result which works better for us than them. It's a tired group that arrived in Brazil for a game we cannot afford to lose if we are to qualify from the group. It was a tired performance, but we only lost it at the death. SEP managed to qualify with a final-day victory over San Lorenzo, we drew, which surprises no one. Only 2 wins in the month, it felt like a better month than it turned out to be. 3 games left of the opening stage.

April 2030 Maksym Bomashchuk is not known for his goals. 6 in 90 for me in Ukraine, and he hadn't scored in his first 9 games in Venezuela. He then gets 2 in 14 minutes and we are off and running in April. Previously unbeaten Caracas came to us tied at 2-2 in the Copa Sudamericana. Our best performance of the spell. 6,242 watched it, which was a record attendance. A tough draw. Maybe take 3rd. Only the top side progresses. A victory over Bobby Zamora's side (maybe..) put us top of the table before we faced the side we had pushed off it. Deportivo La Guaria ended our unbeaten run It's off the Ecuador to lick our wounds. Wilson Barrios almost won it for us, but they equalisied at the death. A point away from home is okay, but we have tougher games to come in the next few months. Deportivo Lara are struggling but we made hard work of it Happy with where it sits right now To get ourselves in a position where we can compete at the top South American table, we need to max out all facilities so the group stage cash is being spent

March 2030 I'm not sure how the qualification works for the Copa Libertadores. In the rules it says the top 4 qualify for it, but it also says the Top 4 qualify for the Copa Sudamericana. Looking at the sides from last season it would appear that getting to the final of the play-offs is key. So that becomes the aim. The reality is that I'll settle for the Copa Sud next year. It's the slow build to improve things. We missed a 1st minute penalty against Dynamo Puerto but thankfully it didn't prove costly. No such blunders in the Guanare match, a converted penalty and numerous other goals. Caraboba are (or maybe were) a good side in form. One the early objectives will be to reduce the age of the starting 11 - most of our key players are approaching the twilight of their careers. Our first foray into the Copa Sudamericana and we get a Venezuelan team. And by the looks of the draw, that's by design as all teams are playing their countrymen. Caracas who are top, with an identical record to us. Away from home. Evenly matched game. This time, we will take a draw and next month they come to us. UCV concluded the month, and our old problems surfaced again. Still unbeaten, but still could be better.

February 2030 Dominating but failing to get the victories - that's how this month gets summed up. Monagas was a horror show, 2-0 in the 87th minute and somehow we didn't win. It was my birthday as well. The positives is that Josue Gutierrez has settled in really well. An unbeaten start to the season. As good as it's been, it should be better.

January 2030 It's time to welcome the new blood: Yohan Molleja, a goalkeeper signed from A.C.C.D. Mineros de Guayana for 12k - they got relegated last season but he looks solid enough to compete for the main starting spot. Maksym Bomashchuk, signed from Hirnyk Sport (1 point), he was solid for me in the Ukraine, just need the same from him again. A Central Defender. Josue Gutiérrez will hopefully be my main man up top, got 17 for Trujillanos Fútbol Club last year at the same level César Rondón, a squad player on the left hand side, useful more than anything. He was a free Ángel González, a dual national (he's American (1 more point), was with Atlanta United in MLS for two seasons, he did okay, another that will be a useful backup. With the outs, Thiakane was one of our stars last season, but he wanted to leave and I'd already bought in Makysm. I've only got space for 4 FGN players. Despite being told we had qualified for the main event, we've actually got the Copa Sudamericana. Just the one league game this month as Josue Gutiérrez settles in nicely.

It's time to shake things up a little.. And by shake it up, I mean commit to staying in a country for a long time.. I've struggled a bit as this save doesn't really have an end goal, which in a way was nice, because I didn't have a far away goal to hit, so like, no pressure, but ultimately I need one... So I'll add a layer of complexity onto this save. The below is still valid.. I can only move on once I have achieved 100 points Points can be gained by: 100 points for winning the top domestic league (think of it as the golden snitch in Quidditch) 25 points for winning a domestic cup 25 points for a promotion 1 point for each player that plays for me at multiple clubs 1 point for each member of staff that works for me at multiple clubs 1 point for signing an American national for my club side (excluding if/when I am managing in the US, Mexico or Canada) HOWEVER I also want to complete the Hexagon Challenge. That's winning the Champions League's in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Oceania HOWEVER... I am only allowed to do it with sides from countries that have never won it before.. Which basically rules out the nations in Red.. I will still be able to manage in these nations, and the 100pts to move on is still applicable, but I cannot claim a Champions League win as part of the challenge here. Some continents appear to be easier than others - Europe has plenty of options, Africa has a few - Senegal for instance. North America has Canada. Oceania looks rather tricky to say the least, but as we are in South America that's where we will lay our hat for the considerable time being. I'll update the below every season, if new nations win their Champs Leagues. Notes: Israel were ticked off by winning the Asian Champions League Serbia were ticked off by winning the European Champions League when they were part of Yugoslavia, but Red Star Belgrade are part of Serbia now. Australia won the Asian AND the Oceanic Solomon Islands is the only nation ticked off within the save itself.

November 2029 180 minutes left of the regular season. Trujillanos away to start. Winner qualifies for the Play-Offs? It feels that way. BOOM!!! The perfect time for a cracking performance. Victory secures our play-off spot. The final game of the season is meaningless. We are in 8th position whatever the result. We gave some of the youngster a chance, as you do in that situation. It was the late show - both goals in the last 13. There are some big point gaps in the nearly final league table You see that side who finished 8pts better than the rest? Yep... Thats who we have to beat in the Quarter Finals - over two legs. Diego Campos hasn't kicked a ball all season but had his chance as our main striker is on loan from our opponents, he scored early doors, but they came back with two cruical goals in the last 10 minutes. That, dear reader, was our chance. In the 2nd leg, we got stuffed. I didn't realise at the time, but if you finish in the top 4 of either of the Stages, you get into the Copa Libertadores - which is nice.