CJF's DiSCUSSION #7 - I didn't want that award

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In this edition, Chris Ford talks about the KA League and the new season!

Hi everyone. It’s me again, talking nonsense about Koneball.

It’s February and it means one thing and one thing only... the new season is just round the corner. Dusting off boots, balls, cameras & tripods, FIKA will be raring to go. I’m really looking forward to it. The KA League starts in the first week of March, while the MKA will start with their singles knockout tournament called Rampage (formerly known as Playoffs) to determine their first title of the year, and rankings for their new format called Ranks.

Mitch [Janzen, MKA GM] tells me he’s excited for it. It’s essentially a rung ladder leaderboard, where the winning order of the Rampage tournament initially decides who sits in what place in the rankings and people can challenge other people continuously around the year to try and get their hands on the title. I’ve heard from a reliable source that apparently they’ve got a custom belt for the champion sorted out – that will be immense. Nothing compared to our KKC trophy though!! This is a great idea for the MKA however I don’t think that format will work in the KA, unfortunately.

On the other side of the Atlantic, we are preparing for a 3^rd KA League. The league will be bigger and better than before, with more production values included to enhance the viewing (and playing) experience. This year will be tough for me personally on the field - as more skilled players enter the fray I can see myself slipping down to the bottom of the league table. I don’t think I’ll be able to repeat my miraculous 4^th place again, though I will try my best. As previously mentioned in my blog, I will update you all on every match and my post-match feelings on how I felt the games went – and I really hope I do well.

So that’s all happening in about three weeks’ time, but one thing we do know are the results of the FIKA Awards.

Goal of the Year was well deserved by Bobby Bartlett just for the utter contempt and swagger he showed. Extremely worthy. I am still reeling from the unanimous decision to award my ‘worst miss’ the prize. I know it was bad, but one to tell the grandchildren! Stewart van Nieuwkerk was voted the best player of the year, another great prize for largely an unnoticed player, in some cases. He won his first title last year but the award paid tribute to his uncanny style of individually destroying every players’ morale with backheel nutmegs. Or forward facing ones, which are just as bad. Congratulations to everyone who won an award.

So that’s it everyone! Not much else happening but I thought I’d update you all on what’s going on in Koneball Land.

See you soon!