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Football - SPL
Thursday, 24 September 2009 07:09 Written by Cordelia O'Hare Founded in back in 2003, the Shanghai Premier League is the United Nations of football in China, and the 09/10 season is about to kick off. Teams hailing from around the globe have been practising in tournaments and friendly matches recently. Players are slowly and (hopefully) surely returning to peek physical fitness in time for their first matches, just after the October holiday. The SPL returns this season with more matches, more teams and a match ground in such good condition it took two years to reach this pinnacle of pitch perfectness (thanks to Adam).* The referees have been sent for training to Urumuqi so they will be on top of every game and a FA licensed ref has requested the honour of blowing the whistle at the season’s kick off. In short, things are bigger and better all around and it’s set to be a fantastic season. Need a team to play for? Want to be a cheerleader on the sidelines but don’t know any teams? Browse away below and find your SPL team for 2009/10. The deadline for player fee payments isn’t until 15th November – plenty of time shop around! *As such, slide tacking will be frowned upon. HAWKS
Despite losing a few of their best players at the end of the last season, the defending Champions will continue to be a force to reckon with, showcasing what football in Shanghai is all about. The league’s joint top scorer returns to put some more balls in the back of the net for the Hawks. We have heard they have been very active in the transfer market, so perhaps a few pairs of fresh legs will help the team to hold on to the title. After all, who doesn’t want to play for the Champions? LIONS
Founded way back in 1996, the Lions are a true multinational team, with players hailing from all over the globe, hoping for a chance to play for the team that has won the Shanghai Premier League 5 out of 6 seasons! Despite the loss of one of their iconic players, Big Michael, who is heading back to Germany (a huge loss to the SPL), the Lions have a strong network of players. They finished strong last season and it looks like they really, really want that cup back. Better keep those beady eyes open Hawks! JAPAN
The Shanghai Japan Football Club was founded in 1995 by the football-crazed Japanese. It is the only team that is playing in both Shanghai leagues (SIFL). The team from last year looks unchanged, which means a militantly disciplined 50-strong squad. These Samurai are never late – in fact they are seriously early. It has been rumoured that they asked Dulwich to open the gates at 7AM during the freezing winter as they need to do their warming up! BULLS
Bilgin the “Allmighty” has announced that the Bulls have a very strong team this season. Playing against the Bulls is always dangerous though, that will never change! They play, and the pitch becomes a plaze de toros. No matador could have stopped the league’s top scorer last year – a Raging Bull! ERS
New leadership of ERS will give them a fresh look. Each year they are edging higher and higher up the tables, and we suspect that they will be able to cause some major upsets throughout the course of the season. Their strongest point is their team spirit, which lead them to a historic 5-0 win over Japan last year! 'ERS jusqu'a la mort!' DULWICH
Although Dulwich has undergone a(nother) leadership change*, the recruiting policy at the school for parents, students and teachers is as aggressive as always, aiming to field the strongest team to date. There is even a condition put in the contract that they can never play for another team in the SPL! However, commitment and good humour are as important as genuine footballing skill, ensuring that everyone gets at least some time on the hallowed turf of the SPL every Sunday. GALACTICOS
Cup winners from last year, the Galacticos will start the season with lots of confidence. The rescheduling of the F1 will also work in their favour this year! We have heard they are making hotel arrangements close to the field for the early games this season to make sure they have their much needed beauty sleep. Players are from all over the shop, but all aim to bring some Brazilian spirit to the game and play champagne football - sometimes quite literally. ‘This is a drinking team with a football problem.’ Anyway the Galacticos will do better than Lewis Hamilton, that’s for sure! FC SH FLAMENKOS
The former FC VLIS has had a complete makeover, revealing the new and improved FC SH Flamenkos. For VLIS, enough was enough. Finishing at the bottom of the league was a blow to bruised egos. The obvious change is their name (smart move) to FC SH Flamenkos. A more subtle difference you may notice is the increase in Spainish bloodstock running around. After Spain won the European Championships they recruited several Spanish players, so better be careful when you play against them, they are champions in waiting! SHANGHAI 48
The new team on the block has kept very hush hush about their abilities and intentions. All that has been disclosed thus far is that 48 is not the average of their age and that they are a Japanese team. We’re intrigued. Watch this space! Comments (1)
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The statement you also make of "Lions have won Shanghai Premier League 5 out of 6 seasons" also means it must have started in 2003/04.