THREE LEGGED MANX MAKE WAY IN CONIFA CUP

So the Isle of Man has found itself making progress through the semi-final of the ConIFA World Cup, held in Sweden this year. Known as Ellan Vannin, the IOM team represents a strong IOM FA which administers football on the island. There are plenty of competitions to occupy the Manx inhabitants including several male and female winter and summer  leagues, cups, juniors events and futsal. ConIFA is a tournament for staes not affiliated to FIFA.

This year’s ConIFA contestants come from Occitania language speakers from Italy, France and Spain, Kurdistan, Padania (a northern Italy region), The Sapmi (northern European tribes in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia), Zanzibar, Armeneans and Syrians from the heart of Mesopotania, Nagorno Karabakh in South Caucasus, Quebec, Abkhazia in European Georgia, Catalonia, Dafur (W Sudan) and Tamil Eelam (Sri Lanka). I wonder if there is a common language? Having mentioned Rapa Nui in a previous blog, they are entitled to join in the tournament but declined this time.

CF Rapa Nui is the association football team from the Chile which represents the territory of Easter Island.

The team played two unofficial games against a team from the Juan Fernández Islands in 1996 and 2000, before playing its first official match on 5 August 2009, in the first round of the Copa Chile 2009; CF Rapa Nui lost 4-0 against Colo-Colo.

For its game against Colo-Colo the team was coached by former Chilean international Miguel Angel Gamboa, who spent several weeks honing the skills of the local players, as well as teaching them the basics of heading, shooting, and positioning. 

While mentioning unusual nation states and footy, why not read “Up Pohnpei” by Paul Watson published by Profile Books, about leading a Pacific Island to World Cup glory!