Temas of ConIFA Euro 2017 North Cyprus
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is an independent de-facto nation in the Northern part of the Mediterranean Sea island of Cyprus.
The KTFF (Kıbrıs Türk Futbol Federasyonu) is the official body of football in Northern Cyprus. They have a long and outstanding footballing history including participations at the 1980 Islamic Games (playing against Turkey, Saudi-Arabia, Malaysia and Lybia), the 2006 FIFI Wild Cup (playing against Zanzibar, Greenland and Gibraltar) and the 2012 VIVA World Football Cup (playing against Darfur United, Provence, Zanzibar and Kurdistan).
They also hosted the amazing ELF Cup in 2006 and played against Crimea, Tajikistan, Tibet and Zanzibar. In front of their own fans they won the trophy (against Crimea, 3-1).
Padania
Padania is an alternative name for the Pado Valley in Northern Italy and consists by Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Liguria, Trentino, Vallée d’Aoste.
The term Padania is the name of a proposed institutional region in the Po Valley and has been used since 1970 when the statesman Guido Fanti began to work on it.
The Padania Football Association is a new foundation and the first independent and overpolitical Football Association to promote football in the Pado Valley. From 2013 on Padania FA (PFA) helps people in the region to present themself in matches and international tournaments and tell the world about their rich history and culture. The team ended 5th in the ConIFA World Football Cup 2014. Their most famous player: Enoch Balotelli, the brother of Mario.
County of Nice
The County of Nice is a historic region within Southern France. From historical days on the region is the surrounding area of its capital Nice and the County has an own culture, history and even a threatened own language called Nicard. From 1388 to 1860 the region belonged to the Piedmontese-Sardinian state and was then annexed by France. The Countea De Nissa Football Association was established in 2013. Without any game played before, La Selecioun became… the first CONIFA World Champion in 2014. In the quarter finals Countea De Nissa won against one of the top favorites, Padania. In the final they won against Ellan Vannin after a penalty shoot out. Countea De Nissa is looking to represent their cultural and historic region on a global stage, and want to promote the local talents through their FA.
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is an independent state at the Eastern coast of the Black Sea, only recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and other unrecognized nations. They declared sovereignity in 1990 and were first registered in 2008 by Russia.
Georgia still today declares that Abkhazia is a part of Georgia. Regardless of the official status of recognition Abkhazia is de-facto independent and self-governed, and thus has an excellent reason to field an own national team.
The Football Federation of Abkhazia (FFA) was established in 2007 and is led by the former Dynamo Sukhum player Jemal Gubaz. During its first international tournament, the ConIFA World Football Cup 2014, Abkhazia ended 8th. Before Abkhazia played two friendly games, in 2011 against Nagorno Karabakh (1-1 and 0-3), in 2013 against South Ossetia (3-0).
Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man)
The Isle of Man is a self-governing crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the Islands Great Britain and Ireland. It is inhabited since at least 6500 BC and is one of the six Celtic nations. The legislature of the Isle of Man, called “Tynwald”, was put into place by Vikings more than 1,000 years ago and thus is the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world.Ellan Vannin, which is the name of the Isle of Man in Manx, is a representative team of Manx people. Together with Countea De Nissa Ellan Vannin was the surprise of the first CONIFA World Football Cup. No team could beat the three legs during the 90 minutes. They lost the final against Countea De Nissa after a penalty shoot out. Formed in 2013 the Manx International Football Alliance (MIFA) is giving people of Manx heritage the chance to play fully internationally football. Ellan Vannin is the twin team of Darfur United, as MIFA helps the refugee team.
Karpatalja
The Hungarians in Ukraine number 156,600 people according to the Ukrainian census of 2001 and are the fifth in number national minority in the country. They are the seventh biggest Hungarian diaspora in the World. Hungarians are largely concentrated in the Zakarpattia Oblast where they form the largest minority at 12.1% of the population (12.7% when native language is concerned) The Zakarpattia Oblast is an administrative province located in southwestern Ukraine. Its administrative centre is the city of Uzhhorod. Other major cities within the oblast include Mukachevo, Khust, Berehove and Chop which is home to railroad transport infrastructure.
South Ossetia
The Republic of South Ossetia is an independent state north of Georgia and south of Russia, which is only recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Tuvalu and other unrecognized nations.
They declared sovereignity in 1992 and were first registered in 2008 by Russia. Whilst Georgia until today declares that South Ossetia is a part of Georgia. Regardless of the official status of recognition South Ossetia is de-facto independent and self-governed, and thus has an excellent reason to field an own national team.
The Football Federation of the Republic of South Ossetia (FFRSO) was established in 1997 and is led by Dzhioev Alan Amiranovich. Before the CONIFA World Football Cup 2014 they only played 2 friendly matches, against Abkhazia (0-3) and Kosovska Mitrovica (2-1). At the World Football Cup 14 in Sweden they ended 4th. Their striker Artur Elbaev became the first CONIFA Top Goal Scorer.
Székely Land
The Székely Land is a historic and ethnographic area in Romania, inhabited mainly by the Székelys, a subgroup of the Hungarian people from eastern Transylvania. The Szekelyföld LE was established in 2014.