NationStates Jolt Archive

Stade National Rêvane-Sud, Rêvane (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/R%C3%AAvane), PDSRA (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ariddia)

There was a hint of excitement in the air at the Stade National Rêvane-Sud, in the south of Ariddia’s capital city, as coach Philippe Elbeskini gathered the team (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ariddia_blind_football_team)’s ten players round him for a new day of training. It was early morning, and the air was gradually warming up, the moist afternoon heat still several hours away. Attacker Leah Rain blew on her hands and hopped up and down, keeping herself exercised as she listened to the coach, while defender Ivan Zajac stretched his arms and legs repeatedly.

“You’ll have the honour of playing for a home crowd,” Elbeskini reminded them, while the media filmed but did not interrupt. “Whatever happens, our country will be proud of you. . . of us. But there’s no reason why we can’t win that Cup, and I know together we’re going to make every effort to win it.”

Soon afterwards, the team were practising attack and defence near the goalcage area. As Leah Rain moved in to position to shoot, defender Lucy Miles kicked the ball away from her. In a later attempt, Rain was able to pass to her team mate Ashraf al Ragadi. “Now!” Elbeskini instructed him, while Miles closed in. Al Ragadi kicked the ball towards Jean Damier’s goal cage, only to have the goalkeeper save it with both hands.

“You waited a moment too long,” Elbeskini told the attacker. “Never mind; let’s do it again. Then we’ll practice free kicks.”

Speaking to the press later, team captain E Ol said:
“I’m really excited to be here. This is the first time we’ve been able to play an international competition. We’ll do everything we can to make the other teams feel very welcome. . . and then we’ll do the best we can to win!”


OOC: At present, this thread is for pre-competition RP. The competition itself will start in a few days.

The signup thread is here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=508401). The roster thread is here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12005755#post12005755). The results & schedule thread is here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=509532).

"Syku! Lja-na!" the coach Hati Ikis shouted at the Radjavedan player.

"Le~l ame~lntis ku..." Syku Lanika was not the most reliable person. He was too much up for any kind of joke and weird behavior. Since he trained this weird things rather much, he could do tricks with the bell-ball, which made seeing people gasp. However Hati would have preferred if he would concentrate on working with others more.

"Ah... eslan se me saldu veda?" Inkil lives in KaMaRi, but this majuvedian has still a bad accent.

Hati reacted angry: "No, I do not expect you all to speak a vedan language, it is just that it is easier for me and easier for him to speak radjaveda." This time, she spoke rejistanian.

"Xan you, maybe... speak rejistanian?" Hiritemekala is very shy. That he openly asks for such a thing shows how important it is for him.

"Yes... I can... sorry, I have not thought about it..."

The Filstafian's team arrived 2 days before the firts match, as asked by the coach to rest and train in optimal circumstances. The team will have more days then other's teams to prepare for the first match and will also had the advantage to study their opponents. The Coach also asked the Autority to close the training ground to all journalist as they may disturb the team.
The people in Filstaf are anxious and proud of their firts international appareance, and asked the player to make them proud of being Filstafian.


Filstafian News Report 8 pm:
"The team seem to be strong and trained, now they just arrived at the airport and will have a whole night of rest before the match. All of us Filstafian wish a good luck to the team that rapresent our Happy and friendly Country, and hope this will bring a new attention from the foreigners to our nation! " a politician stated.
"we hope to make all of you happy, and thank you for all the help you gived us to prepare this important event" replied the coach.

“The problem is, we don’t know anything about any of them.”

After a hard day’s training, E Ol, Ashraf al Ragadi, Jean Damier, Ivan Zajac, Pála Sigurdsdóttir and Bastien Tailleur had all congregated in Leah Rain’s appartment in Rêvane, sitting on the sofas or on the floor, sharing pizza while the radio, with its volume almost muted, delivered the evening news. The team had come to know one another quite well and regularly gathered in this way, their coach and guide Philippe Elbeskini often joining them too.

Ivan nodded at Ashraf’s words.
“Then again,” he said, his hands moving over the low table, searching for the knife to cut himself a new slice of pizza, “nobody does. I mean, we’re all on an equal footing.”

They had taken in the announcement of the group draws earlier, and now seemed eager to comment on it. Drawn second of the thirteen competing countries, Ariddia had found itself in Group A, along with Malabra, Rejistania and Saxon Cross.

Saxon Cross was a complete mystery. They had had to ask Ashraf, a geography fanatic, exactly where it was. Malabra was better know, of course, but its blind team would be making its international debut, just like the Ariddian Escadron Noir.

“It’sh–” the beautiful Pála Sigurdsdóttir began around a mouthful of pizza, then stopped to swallow before continuing. “It’s Rejistania that’s worrying me,” she said, voicing all their thoughts. Nobody knew how good Rejistania’s blind players were, but they all kept up to date with the ‘other’ World Cup, and if that was anything to go by the Ariddia – Rejistania match would be. . . interesting.

“Our first match is at the National Stadium, right?” Jean Damier – the team’s first goalkeeper, and the only non-blind person of the seven players present – asked.

“Right,” Leah Rain, their host, said. “But let’s try not to worry about that tonight, shall we? We’ve earned the right to relax for one evening. Plenty of time to get stressed later.” She reached over to pick up the bottle of fizzy grapefruit juice, judging by its weight that it was only half-empty. “Anyone for a refill?”

Quite a few days ago..........

"Well, how are we are we going to get there?" asked Arthur Wilson 1, who, along with his identical twin brother, was clearly the most normal of the group. Sadly, after an argument about wether the dead parrot the team is bringing is resting or dead, they were still stuck on the plane without the faintest idea about where they were going.

"Shall I.....?" George Head said. He was clearly the only person in the room who knew about what way to go. "Well we'll be leaving on yesterday and taking the following routes. The A23s through Purleys down on the main roads near Purbrights avoiding Leatherheads and then taking thc A231s entering Rottingdeans from the North. From Rottingdeans we go through Africa to Nairobis. We take the South road out of Nairobis for about twelve miles and then - ask."

The plane went silent. Mr Head was clearly the only person in the room who not only didn't know where to go, he had also got this confused with a different expedition that he had done over a quarter of a century ago.

"Ariddia!", exclaimed Mr Praline, "I'm sure I bought my Bee Licence there...yes, that's right....or maybe it was in Stafford? Anyway, I know where it is." Out of his pocket he produced a brick, with the words "My Brain Hurted on this" printed on it. "Where's my map!?" he yelled.

"We're here!" yelled Monty, the pilot/head coach, who until this moment had been unoticed by the rest of the team.

"How did that happen?" said Arthur Wilson 2, who said that because he hadn't had anything to say for a long time.

"This is the silliest RP thread i've ever been in." said Jimmy Blenkinsoft 2.

"RP Thread? My brain hurts!" the Gumbies all said in unicen. "Let' s operate!"

"Shall we stop it?"

At this point all the Gumbies started shouting "The anaesthetic! The anaesthetic!"

"Yeah, all right."

Cafundéu's players, staff and directors reached Ariddia at midnight, avoiding the traffic and the media. They went to the most luxurious hotel that they could saw and paid for it. Later, at 5 o'clock they began the trainings.

The president of the CCFDV, Kléber Sampaio, said in a telephone interview: "This first day in Ariddia was very good, we're preparing well for this competition. No problems happened."

The players also seemed happy. Jordão threw a Cafundéu shirt to the reporters and Ari Toledo tried to tell a parrot joke to them, but was interrupted by Sampaio.

They're now waiting for the first game and training hard.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/malabra.png 1-1 http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/ariddia.png
Ariddia off to an “average” start

The “Escadron Noir” faced Malabra in its first ever international match, before a dutifully quiet but enthusiastic home crowd in Stade National Rêvane-Sud. All over the country, the Blind World Cup was underway, but the host nation’s eyes were on its own team.

Damier, Miles, Ol, Rain and al Ragadi lined up as the starting five, linking arms as the national anthems were played before the start of the match. Cameras flashed, recording images for posterity. Then the players turned to their opponents and – a moment supporters had all been waiting for – performed the traditional ulek (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ulek).

Goalkeeper Jean Damier and his four blind team mates stood in a slightly curved line on their side of the field, leaning forward threateningly towards their opponents, almost on their tiptoes. They began to chant the ancient war song, their five voices powerful, challenging, aggressive and confident, chanting rhythmically. They leapt up, swinging their arms as if possessed, their moves wild yet perfectly coordinated. . . a choreography made all the more impressive by the fact four of them could not see.

“Llseh! Llseh!
Swehashi llosh e lueal o!
Wo’el yeual o!”

Their voices lashed out at Malabra’s players, while they continued to leap and dance, full of raging but skillfully channeled energy. Of course, only one of the Malabrians could actually see them, but all could hear their chanting war cries.

“Al llseh! Al llseh!
Wul ellul sel ei! Wul!”

The chant built up to a climax, while the spectators watched on in thrilled silence.

“Silew wa oleh!
Sah wa weheshisi!
Sah wa weheshisi!“

Finally, the five Ariddians half-knelt before leaping forward at their opponents, breaking up just before reaching them, and returning to their side of the field. The crowd applauded, and the match was ready to start.

If they had been impressed by the ulek, the Malabrians did not not allow it to deter them from good playing. It soon appeared that the two sides were quite evenly matched. Their guides and goalkeepers called out instructions to the blind players, who kept the rattling ball moving at a fast pace, and did not shy away from physical contact as they vied for control.

Quite early in the first half, Malabra’s Tikiq Erana kicked a powerful sideways shot, which Damier was just able to deflect over the horizontal bar. Minutes later, Leah Rains almost scored for Ariddia, but Malabrian Varno Owaq skidded in in time to deflect her shot. The first half ended without a goal having been scored.

Elbeskini kept his same five players for the second half, and, six minutes in, Ashraf al Ragadi sent the ball hurtling past Ganda Mikan and into the net, on a good pass by his captain, E Ol. The Ariddian players congratulated one another joyfully, but the match was far from over. With eleven minutes left to go, Rau Nidaj equalised for Malabra, forcing the Ariddians to accelerate the pace. Al Ragadi sent the ball bouncing off the side bar three minutes later, before Henry Shorn came in to replace him. A final kick by E Ol eighty seconds before the end of the game was well saved by Malabrian keeper Mikan, and the match ended on a 1-1 draw.

The Escadron Noir players congratulated their opponents, some of them swapping shirts, while spectators were finally allowed to break their silence and applaud. Meanwhile, over in Wavecrest City Stadium, Rejistania had defeated Saxon Cross 1-0, taking the lead in Group A. The Ariddians had their work cut out for them for the two remaining matches.

*This is a script of the T.V. Debate (on MPTV) on who may or may not be debating on wether "The Great Monty Python" may win the Blind Footballl World Cup (or not)*

Kennedy: Hello. Should "The Great Monty Python" win the Blind Football World Cup or should they not? On tonight's programme the Minister of Silly Walks, Mr Teabag, and the GMPSPRC's (The Great Monty Python Summarrising Proust Reglatory Committee's) President, Harry Bagot.

Bagot: Good evening.

Teabag: Good evening.

Kennedy: Gentlemen - Should "The Great Monty Python" win the Blind Football World Cup or not? Bagot?

Bagot: Yes.

Kennedy: Teabag?

Teabag: No.

Kennedy: Teabag?

Teabag: Yes.

Kennedy: Bagot.

Bagot: No.

Voice Over: 'Yes : 2 - No : 2'

Kennedy: Well there you have it. Two say will, two say won't. We'll be back again next week, and next week's 'Great Debate' will be about something else and it will be cancelled mysteriously.

http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/ariddia.png 2-1 http://spaam.mrdrake.net/flags/rejistania.png
Ariddia tops Group A

The Escadron Noir had cause to celebrate today, after a 2-1 victory over their most feared opponents, Rejistania. The teams met at Wavecrest City Stadium, in front of enthusiastic but quiet supporters, and rapidly began testing each other’s abilities.

The Rejistanians had won their opening match against Saxon Cross, while Ariddia had managed only a draw against Malabra, but the Escadron Noir were not intimidated. Even after Rejistania scored the opening goal in the fifteenth minute, they continued to play a well-structured game, which bore fruit when Ashraf al Ragadi scored in twenty-second minute.

The same five Ariddians took to the field in the second half of the match, and it was Leah Rain who, with her first international goal, clinched the game in Ariddia’s favour in the forty-second minute. A few minutes earlier, Pála Sigurdsdóttir had been switched in for E Ol, who had handed the captaincy to goalkeeper Jean Damier. With the support of a fresh and rested midfielder, the Escadron Noir kept up the pressure against Rejistania, who were unable to equalise. The Ariddians hugged one another joyfully as the whistle was blown, signalling their first international victory.

As it stands, Ariddia is now on top of Group A, with four points – followed by Rejistania with three. But none of the four teams have yet qualified, and none are eliminated. All will depend on the final match. . .

Escadron Noir advances

A one-all draw against Saxon Cross, with Ashraf al Ragadi scoring, was enough to see Ariddia through to the second round of the Blind World Cup, along with seven other teams. Although they have only won a single game, the Escadron Noir have yet to lose a match, prompting hope and confidence in their abilities.

They will now, however, have to face The Great Monty Python in the quarter-finals. . . a team which has scored seven goals in three matches (compare with Ariddia’s mere four), and was the first to qualify, winning its first two matches.

“It will be difficult, but there’s no reason why we can’t win,” Ariddian team captain E Ol said.

The two teams will meet in Haven-Port-Nouveau Stadium. Interestingly, Ariddia and The Great Monty Python are the only two teams to have a pre-match ritual dance: the ulek, and the “Fish Slapping Dance”, respectively. By a stroke of coincidence, they will now be able to perform these dances while facing each other. It is the first time, in any competition, that Ariddia will face a team which offers a response to the ulek.

There has reportedly been some discussion as to whether the dances should be performed simultaneously – and, if not, then in what order.

“The Fish Slapping Dance is an integral part of our guests’ traditions, and we respect and honour that,” Ariddian Paralympic Committee President Frédéric Iwo explained. “Incidentally, I would like to reassure viewers that the fish used are made of rubber, since importing dead fish into Ariddia is of course illegal. But we feel that having the guest team perform their dance at the same time as the ulek would be disrespectful for the ulek. Traditionally, Ariddia’s opponents are supposed to stand and face the ulek, not do something else at the same time.”

It was eventually decided that the GMP team would perform its dance as a response following the ulek. . . thus treating viewers to two successive, and culturally very different, traditional dances.

Blind Tigers Advance to Semis
Malabra continues its success by defeating Anastasiania.

SUD, ARRIDIA--Malabra's Blind National Team, the Blind Tigers, has just advanced to the semifinals in the Blind World Cup after its hard-fought 3-2 win over Anastasiania. They will now play against Ropa-Topia at Darras Olympic Stadium.

The Ropa-Topians defeated Dumania with an identical score and has been one of the top teams in the tournament. The next match shall be a tough test.

Two of Malabra's goals came within the first half, with the last coming just late in the second half with only a few minutes remaining. All of Anastasiania's goals were in the first half.

From the Malabrian Times: http://www.malabriantimes.blogspot.com

"Eric, we can't use the fish."

This was not good news for Mr. Praline. Having just finished his bowl of spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, baked beans, spam, spam, spam and spam, he was hoping that he could quietly sit down and read a book about the larch.

"What do mean we can't use the fish? We imported them from "The Land of Nocturnal Ducks!"

"Or the parrot", said Arthur 1, "We can't use that as well."

"We can't use the parrot!" roared Eric. "But it's a Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue. Beautiful plumage!

"The plumage don't enter into it!" Arthur 1 replied. "The Ariddian Paralympic Committee said not to!"

Eric thought for a moment. He remembered the good times he spent with the parrot. He remembered his first squawk. He remembered when he was pining for the fjords. He remembered when he chiseled the glue of his cage.

"What are we going to do then? Make ones out of rubber!" he joked.

"Well, that is what the committee suggested......"

"Do you think they'll tell the difference? Whether they're real or not?" said Eric.

"Yes, of course they will! It says here: 'Cruelty against animals, including insects and fish, is viewed by Ariddians as contemptible and perverse. Visitors should remember that eating meat, or killing or wounding an animal, is a crime in Ariddia, and may result in a jail sentence or a lengthy sentence of community work.' Do you want to pick up litter on the streets? Or work in a cheese shop?"

This was received with a stunned science from Eric. He once had a horrible experience in a cheese shop and he never wants to go back there.

"Then we’ll send them back to Great Monty Python, before we get arrested for possession. And if anyone asks about them..."

"Yes?" said Eric.

"We'll just say they're resting."