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Sportscast Jersey: PoJ Entering World Cup To Bring It Home
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Hello and welcome to the first episode of 2020 for Sportscast Jersey.
We kick things off by talking to James Scott, the manager of Parishes of Jersey FC, as we talked about the upcoming CONIFA AGM in Jersey, entering the CONIFA World Cup this summer and what the future holds for POJFC.
A big thanks to Parishes of Jersey for sponsoring this episode.
I hope you enjoy, and a big thanks for listening!
Thanks,
Dan
James Scott, Parishes Jersey Manager.
SPEAKER_01Hello and welcome to SportsCars Jersey, a show dedicated to sport in Jersey and promoting the sports that you love. On the first episode of 2020, I cover Parishes of Jersey as I speak to James Scott, ahead of Kanifa coming to Jersey for their annual AGM meeting and following news that Parishes of Jersey are entering a team into this summer's Kanifa World Cup in North Macedonia. Here is what James had to say.
SPEAKER_02Sportscast Jersey. The voice of violence.
SPEAKER_01What are your first memories of football going right back?
SPEAKER_00Well, right back. It was actually in myself and a a few a few uh friends that I'm still uh friendly with to this to this day now. We used to have a kickabout pretty much every day after school, all day Saturday, all day Sunday. Um and yeah, so from a young age I uh I I love the sport and it's how my myself and uh quite a few uh friends passed past the time as a youngster. So it's always been um part of my life even from a very, very young age.
SPEAKER_01Was football always your number one sport, or were you quite handy at all sports?
SPEAKER_00Uh well I'm a P teacher, so um I'm I'm I I would say that I'm fairly well, when I was at school I used to play every sport under the sun, to be honest. Um I used to play basketball, I used to play cricket, I used to play volleyball. Um but yeah, football was the was the main sport um that I used to play most of. And obviously as you get a little bit older, you normally have to um prioritize, especially when when I went to university, you have to sort of prioritize with one sport because they are are are on at the same time. Uh but football's always been uh yeah yeah yeah my leading sport and the one I've enjoyed more than any others. But any any uh any youngster I think at an early age, I know I'm telling my son to try and play as many different sports as he possibly can because it all helps for your football if you don't if you do go down that route. I think I don't think at a young age you should um just focus on on the one sport, you should play as many sports as you possibly can, and then as I said, you'll you'll you'll naturally focus on one as you develop and as you get a little bit older.
SPEAKER_01Uh when you played in your playing career, you largely played for Scottish. Um just how good was it playing local football growing up? Obviously, you won a lot of leagues with Scottish as well. Just how good was that?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, as you said, I've I've I've played with Jersey Scottish um from a very young age. I actually haven't played for any other club, so I'm pleased to say I'm uh there's not many uh footballers in Jersey that can say that they've played for one club from start to finish, from a youngster all the way through uh to playing with the senior team, but that's exactly what I did do. Um yeah, playing for Scottish back in the day, it was great. Um, a youngster playing within a very, very successful and talented bunch of players. Um I remember as a youngster 16 16-year-old going down to to train with the Scottish first team down at Millbrook. Um the the there was hardly a patch of grass on the surface, and they still managed to play great football on that. Um there was hardly any floodlights, so it was could hardly see the ball towards the end of the sessions, especially during the uh the winter months. But uh they're great memories. Uh every season used to go down to Milbrook and and there used to be three or four new new players um that had come over from Scotland um either to stay with family or to get a bit of work, and that used to just be great because it it would put the the the the competition would be there um every single year to try and fight for your spots and try try and fight for your places, and I think that's what um made Jersey Scottish so successful um over that period of time. Um towards the end um it came a little became a little bit more challenging because there simply weren't as many people coming to the island um and that those people um just just basically dwindled season after season, so the competition sort of dwindled with it alongside it. Um but yeah, great memories. Um I mean I've got I've got loads and loads of stories, so it was great great to uh be managed by the uh by the infamous Pat Brennan, um who obviously is is influenced me quite a lot when I um try and have my teen talks and stuff like that. But yeah, he he was a a great character to have about the place, and anyone that's been involved in in football on the island um knows Pat Brennan. Um and in all honesty, he was uh he was Mr. Jersey Scottish, he was what um what made the the the club be so successful. Um and uh yeah to be fair I I take Jersey Scottish minis now on a Sunday morning, and Pat's still up there with his with his granddaughter, he still comes up, so it's still good to see him in and around the place. Um and yeah, hopefully those youngsters on a Sunday morning will uh will develop and and and play for um the senior uh Jersey Scottish teams one day in the future.
SPEAKER_01Definitely. Um you'll obviously play for Jersey as well. Who would you say were the best players that you played with in those Jersey sites?
SPEAKER_00Oh, it's put me on the spot a little bit there. Um I've played with a a number of uh talented people through years, actually a couple of generations showing my age though a little bit, but a couple of generations worth of players. Um when I was first getting into the the island sort of setup, I would imagine it would probably be the likes of um Ryan Lumsden, Mark Brown, Ali Santos, um, and then after that I would say the likes of um the players that sort of influenced the game. Um Luke Watson was a very influential player. Obviously, uh Jack Boyle is an outstanding player, and still hope he's got a few years left in him after he uh recovers from his knee injury. Luke Campbell's been very, very consistent um over the years, probably the most consistent centre half for a number of years. I can't miss out. Obviously, my number two for the parish is Stuart Andre. Um he's a legend within himself with regards to Jersey football. Jack Cannon, I know, is trying to push for and be the most uh capped island player going forward. I don't think he's too far off that. So um he's been involved for a long, long period of time. Um Dave, we're going back in time, just thought about date, just thinking about names now. Davy Brodie, um he was a very uh influential island captain um a good few years ago as well. So I've been lucky enough to play with a with a number of different people um with regards to the the the Jersey and the island setup. Ross Crick, great striker as well. If he he would score uh nine nine out of ten one-on-one, I don't think there's been a striker that that that can do what he he he did back in those days for such a long period of time. Currently there's no one like that. Um so yeah, I've I've I've I've been uh it's it's been enjoyable playing with a a number of very, very talented players.
SPEAKER_01Compared to maybe those Ross Krix um Browns, how do you think the level of football's changed over the years in Jersey?
SPEAKER_00Um in all honesty, I think um it has, I would say, due to the the the there's less and less uh people coming in for uh in from the UK, as I mentioned before, um in all honesty, I think the the standard has um declined slightly. Um and I I'd be lying if I if if if I wasn't truthful in saying that. Um but at the same time there are some still very, very talented uh players in Jersey, and I have no no um no shadow without a shadow of a doubt they'd be playing professional football in the UK if they were there. Um youngsters coming through that uh that that have really impressed me as well. Um so yeah, combination and and league-wise, I'd say yeah, the standard has has dropped. Um but uh that's that's to be honest, 11 aside football right across the UK. It's not just in Jersey, numbers are dwindling slightly, so it's not just a Jersey problem, it's all across the uh the country, which is a shame, but that's just the reality of it. Um but hey, it's still it's it's still out there, um and we all still enjoy it as much as uh the next man out there. So yeah, let's hope uh let's hope there's better days to come.
SPEAKER_01Uh since retirement you started to coach and start coaching more and more. Um what do you prefer? Do you miss the playing days still or do you like coaching just as much?
SPEAKER_00Oh I I actually came out of retirement, I think, two or three times. That just shows how much I love playing the game. Um but uh yeah, I think I I'm I'm at the age now where I know that I can't um be at the levels of these youngsters now. They they they'd uh I'd I'd really struggle to keep up with them now. So I think I I managed to get an extra uh an extra few seasons playing, which I didn't think would happen. Um got a couple of more uh Marathi caps at that time as well, which I again I didn't think would happen. So uh I think I think I bowed out at the right time. Um I obviously I missed the little things of uh of um being in the change room with with the lads and stuff like that. Obviously I'm still in there, but from a different different perspective now, and uh yeah, I I'd just like to think I'd like to think that I've picked up a few bits and pieces along along the way from coaches and managers, and I'm trying to install that in in the in the way I go about my business for the parishes.
SPEAKER_01Uh you just mentioned that parishes, when did that idea, very first idea, come about? When did you think you and James Blower think about it the first time?
SPEAKER_00Um well it was it was to be honest after I sort of finished playing, um I wanted to to to be involved in football i in within some capacity. Um I do have uh two young children, or they're getting a little bit older now, but I have two two children, so um I wanted to be involved in football and be involved in something that literally wasn't week in, week out, training every week, um, and that sort of thing, so and playing at weekends, so those weekends that were uh gone because I obviously wanted to spend a little bit more time with my family. Um and this sort of parishes route sort of appealed to me. Um it was basically in 2018. I sort of got wind of it when I sort of sort of went online and tried to look for an alternative after the JFA got knocked back from um becoming a member of UEFA. Um I looked to see if there was an alternative route out there and I came across Kanifa. I then watched um the 2018 World Kanifa World Cup, World Football Cup in London with great interest. Um large amounts of me a large amount of media coverage, it was covered cover covered on Sky Sports, there's three and a half thousand people watching the games. Um Island Man were playing it under a uh a different name, so I knew then that the standard was good enough. And yeah, it's sort of just snowball from there, really. And uh I'm quite a determined individual, so uh once once once I s once I seen first hand and and and followed uh can even see what could happen. Um yeah, I thought why not? Let let let's see if Jersey can uh be involved in that going forward.
SPEAKER_01Um when you came about to picking the backroom staff, just how important is that to the whole club? And most recently, adding Stu, Andre, how important is he gonna be in the f n this summer?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Stu's really, really important. I think uh he's been involved with um with obviously St. Paul's for a long period of time. Um playing wise, he's he can still hold his own, but just having his experience around um the players, and the more even the senior players st really respect Stuart for what he can uh what he can bring and his his knowledge, and he always he also puts on a very good uh uh session coaching-wise as well, that all the lads really enjoy. So, yeah, it's good to have Stuart on board. But it's it is in in all honesty. I know you mentioned myself and James Blower, and we are sort of like the main sort of driving force behind it, and I'm grateful for how much uh time and effort James Blower has put in um over what seems like a decade, but it's only been uh a year or so, he's been outstanding. Um, and yeah, so it's looking like um there's an 18-man, say for example, there's an 18-man squad for the summer uh tournament that for this summer, um, but there'll be actually 26 of us flying out there, including yourself, Dan. So it's uh important that all the uh other people that chip in and do their little bits because without without them it wouldn't wouldn't be able to wouldn't happen. Um it's as simple as that. So even though there's 18 players, I believe it's a squad of 26, and I'm just grateful for everyone giving up their their time, um, and hopefully they'll enjoy the experience and opportunity as much as the players themselves.
SPEAKER_01I'm looking forward to it personally.
SPEAKER_00We'll keep you busy.
SPEAKER_01Uh what was the relationship with the JFA when it first came to light that you were entering Kanifa, entering a team? What was it like when at first?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, at first I mean I um I met up with uh John Luke at that m a moment in time and I explained about the uh sort of Khnifa route and I was I was um when when I had that discussion with him and Martin Cassidy and I said it'll be great for the Jersey FA to go round the down this route if it would interest you. John Luke at that time said that um unfortunately they they wouldn't be able to go down that route. Um they have to obviously abide by the the FA and also um UA for had have give had given them some promises that they would get them some games and everything at that moment in time, so they had to tread carefully. Um and I and I left that meet and say, well, if if if you don't want to do it, then uh I'll go away and and see what needs to be done um and take it on from there. But as I as I mentioned before, I'm quite a determined individual, so yeah, I was I was quite uh keen to to make it happen, mainly for the players. I'd been uh obviously a player involved in the island settle for a long time. Um and even though that I had um amazing opportunities um when I went to San Marino um after winning the uh inter Interleague Cup, which was an amazing opportunity representing England and stuff like that, that was great. Um Island Games are a really good experience, but I believe um Kanifa and the and the parishes team is just offering something completely different and hopefully putting Jersey on the uh the world map with regarding even though minor international football, and that's is that that's exactly what it is.
SPEAKER_01Like you mentioned, when you played you had these experiences, but how are you jealous of ha them the players now getting this experience rather than the guys in your generations?
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah, I'm uh I'm jealous. Um obviously uh trying to keep hold hold holding on and being involved within some capacity because I think it is great. I think Jersey, if you talk about this time last year, um there wasn't anything for our the the most talented players on the islands. Now it's got now they've got Jersey, Jersey FA games, they've got the Jersey Bull games, they've got the parishes. I'm fully aware of that the the Bulls, what what they've done is is fantastic. I've got nothing but um massive, massive respect for Russell and Ian and everyone behind the scenes, Gary managing the team week in, week out, what the bulls are done uh are doing currently is it's fantastic for Jersey football. I mean the crowds down at Springfield just show to show that. So fair play to each and every one of them for making that happen. But I believe the parishes is just an uh it is an add-on, and I'm fully aware of that, uh, with it being just during the off season, during the summer months. Um and yeah, hopefully it's an enjoyable add-on. I'm sure this uh this summer will uh will determine. We'll test in the water this summer, obviously uh involved in the in our first Kennifa World Cup. Um and yeah, hopefully we'll test the water, but hopefully we'll we'll be successful and we'll uh showcase what parishes can do, but also what Kanifa can offer.
SPEAKER_01Uh going back to the Parishes' very first game against Yorkshire up at St. Peter's, just how good was le the lead up to that day, just how good was it when that first whistle went?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was uh it was uh a great experience now. That was just over a year ago now, um, and it was a a great day. It was good to it was a really, really good occasion. Obviously, no one knew anything about Yorkshire, and that's exactly what I said to the players. I said you don't often, being from Jersey, get the opportunity. Um at currently at that moment in time, I know the balls have slightly changed that this season, but at that moment in time they turned up to a game of football. They were playing against opposition, they knew nothing about um it was a challenging game. I think the players reacted unbelievably well and and and and enjoyed it, um, and that sort of put us in good stead, and it sort of highlighted that the players wanted to be involved in that sort of setup. So that's uh it was a good way to start. Um using St. Peter's setup up there. I think I mean it's probably in in in in my view the best uh setup of uh the uh that the club all out of all the clubs on the island uh the setup St Peter's have got is just is just is just top top notch. So it was a great day, great hospitality, and obviously getting the uh the 2-1 win on the day was just the icing on the cake.
SPEAKER_01Uh you mentioned St Peter's and playing playing it up there. Why did you play it there, Rive, rather than Springfield?
SPEAKER_00Was there a reason or I think at that that moment in time I think this it was literally just the fact that uh uh that St Peter's have got such a good setup. Um we all know what Springfield is uh what what Springfield can offer. Um the after speaking to the players themselves at that moment in time, they all really enjoy playing on on 3G. We knew from a hospitality point of view and the location of it, because Yorkshire pretty much came straight from the airport, so St Peter's obviously his ground was very, very close to there, only two minutes down the road. Um but at the hospitality before for the pre-match lunch, then afterwards, the hospitality for the players is is is is second to none up there, so that's that's why we approached St. Peter's, and I'm pleased to say that they wanted uh they were more than happy for us to host our first game up there.
SPEAKER_01And then last summer we went to Yorkshire. How good were those two days for yourself? How was the experience? How different was it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I I've been in uh away on a few football trips, that was the first time, sort of like it was on my shoulders, so to speak, so um it was very, very busy leading up to it. Um we had a few we had a few blips. It the tournament didn't run um as we wanted. A couple of teams pulled out uh last minute, um, which which wasn't uh great, but we're we're always open and honest. We we managed to get uh get another game against another Kanifa member um uh pretty much at the last minute, which was and we were very uh grateful to Chagos for giving us that second game. Um and that's it. We're learning as we go, we're picking up what picking up bits and pieces we go along with regarding our Kanifa journey. And yeah, we've definitely had some steep uh learning sort of lessons, so to speak, with regarding that that weekend away. Uh the the actual weekend away itself was was was superb. Obviously, disappointed to to win that to try to get beat in that first game against uh Yorkshire. Um scoring conceding a goal in sort, I think it was the 93rd minute. So, yeah, that was a bit of a low blow, but um it's just anybody knows if you're away with a group of lads for a week for for a weekend and there's a bit of football involved, you can't really go wrong. Um you had a good time, Dan.
SPEAKER_01I did, yeah. Let's leave it there. Um what feedback did you get from the players from that weekend? Did they enjoy it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, they stayed, they they said they really enjoyed it. Um obviously that was last summer when there was f f a number of them players were involved in the Jersey FA games, they were involved in the the the Bulls pre-season friendlies, they were involved in that weekend, so it was a a busy summer for them. Um so I at the end of the summer I got in touch with a number of the players, especially the ones that were involved in all three, um, just to get their feedback. Do the did because it's important that we without the players the parishes wouldn't happen, so it's important to get their feedback. They said they really enjoyed that weekend away. They would love to see the parish go to the next level, and that's how that's what what we're looking to do uh this summer. Um but the players said it would be good if if the parishes um if anything happens with the parishes if it happened at the start of the summer, so that then they could have a few weeks off um pr prior to the bull stuff kicking off again and everything like that, and I think that's that that's that's basically what we're gonna be doing this summer because um after a full long season of playing for the bulls, and it is a a huge um huge commitment and a lot of time, and their bodies do need time to rest and recover. So hopefully we can uh after the Knifa World Cup this summer they can have um a good few weeks off just to rest their bodies and get them prepared for the uh next next season.
SPEAKER_01Kinefa are coming to town just under two weeks now. How exciting is that for everyone in full of the power shift?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's exciting. Obviously, we've got uh we're not sure of the exact number. We think there's about 40 delegates flying in from all over the world um in a couple of weeks' time for the Kanifas AGM. It's great to host it here in Jersey. We're gonna showcase what Jersey has to offer. Um it will be on on on the uh the Saturday itself. We've got Steve Pallett coming down to um welcome um all the delegates from a ministerial point of view to the island. Um and then there'll be Kanifa will be hosting their their their their normal sort of AGM and there'll be a lot of um boxes to tick with regarding with regarding that like any other normal AGM uh but on the Sunday morning um which it will be really exciting because they'll be doing the uh World Cup uh draw during the during the the Sunday morning, so it'll be interesting to s to view that um on the Sunday morning and see who. We've got in our group.
SPEAKER_01Um are you gonna show them around the grounds of what we've got here in Jersey as well?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so on the Sunday afternoon after the uh the World Cup draw has taken place and any other bits and bobs loose ends that they need to tie off for themselves, we'll be taking them um around the a tour around the facilities um on the island, show them what football structure we have in place. We'll take them to a couple of hotels as well, so accommodation. Um, because I think Kanifa like to try and host their AGMs in places that has the potential to possibly host one of their major, whether it's a European Championships or the World Cup. Um and I and hopefully we can showcase what Jersey uh can offer uh within within that tour on the Sunday afternoon. Um and I think I I've got I've got no doubts they'll be very, very impressed what we have uh here in Jersey. It's just a shame that the uh the AGM isn't in the summer months because they might be even more impressed then. But um I think they'll they'll they'll be impressed nonetheless.
SPEAKER_01Um you've got obviously two you go away two times this summer. Um how exciting are they gonna be, especially the World Cup, to test yourself against more unknown people uh players, teams? Why what are you expecting?
SPEAKER_00The unexpected it's gonna we're going obviously now as as I said, our plan was to take it to the net parishes to the next level this summer. Um it it's all gonna be over uh two two and a half week periods. We've got um a pre-World Cup tournament in Surrey, um which is soon after Marathi and I'll be get getting the players in soon after Marathi, a couple of training sessions, going to that pre-uh World Cup tournament in Surrey, um a couple of sessions after that, uh, and then we'll be going over to North Macedonia to play in the Knefa World Cup. So with regarding the World Cup itself, it's going to be something completely new. We're going to a place that myself and a lot of the players that they'd never even heard of before, so that'll be interesting in itself, and I think it what that offers, it offers more than just the football, getting that whole cultural experience will will be interesting. Um and yeah, it'll just it's it's something that you you're involved in a global tournament that uh that means something. Um any amateur football player that that that has the opportunity to go and play at a World Cup, and I know it's at the Kanifa sort of level, but uh again they're still representing Jersey against players like you said, Dan, that they've known nothing about and hopefully just thrive on that opportunity and experience and uh and do the business.
SPEAKER_01Are you looking to take simply the strongest side you can take, or are you gonna include some youngsters to have an experience as well alongside some more experienced players? Is it gonna be a mix or is it gonna be as strong as you can be?
SPEAKER_00It's gonna be as strong as I possibly as strong as it can be, but I think I think when you're making it as strong as it can be, there needs to be that mix, as everyone knows, that that that youth and experience is really, really important. We'll definitely need a few more older heads about, with it being a tournament. Um tournament football is completely different, you need to manage it uh very differently. Um but yeah, I I I'm a true believer in having a few youngsters in there to bring them through as well and and and to to to have the same opportunity as the uh as the senior players, and it's it's how they how they take uh take that opportunity up and and and it's and it's it's more than just during the games itself, it's how they interact with the players um off off the pitch um and how sort of like the senior players will take them under their wing a little bit um and understand that they were a youngster once themselves and know and and they know what it feels like um but at the same time those senior heads are uh are really really important um when going away uh to play in a play to play tournament football.
SPEAKER_01Um are there are there places still up for grabs? Are you still going out and looking for players or in your head is there uh 18 man squad there already?
SPEAKER_00Er I've I'd be lying if I say there wasn't a core um set of players. I'm not sure of the exact number um that I if I was to I was to pick a squad tomorrow, they're there and they'd be on that that that that that piece of paper. Um but there are others, I mean, that the the the squad is by no means um sl chosen. Um just the weekend just gone there. I went on the Friday night, I went to watch Wonders versus Roselle um on the Saturday, I went up to watch the first half of uh the St. Paul's game against Umbrelards, and then I went down to watch the Jersey Bulls game afterwards down at Springfield. So that's my um the way I like to do things. I'll be watching the Bulls games as much as possible, I'll be watching the uh the the combination fixtures as much as possible as well. And I'm not I will not be scared to chuck a few names in there um up that people might not um but they'll be a little bit surprised that they're involved, bottom line, if they're playing well and I think that they can slot and and and can do a job for the parishes, then they deserve to be in it.
SPEAKER_01So the message is just play as well as you can for the rest of the season.
SPEAKER_00That's exactly it, yeah. I mean I I I'm uh I'm aware there's players out there that haven't haven't been noticed uh in the past. Doesn't mean they can't be noticed going forward. Um they might be interested to uh be involved with something that the parishes i is offering. Uh they might not have had that call up for the bulls, etc. etcetera. So um yeah, just I'll be up watching and uh yeah, we'll we'll we'll see how that pans out.
SPEAKER_01Um you've mentioned the bulls a lot. Have you had conversations with them? Are they absolutely on board with the guys going out to North Macedonia in the summer?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I I've uh I've got a really, really uh good relationship with it with pretty much everyone at the Bulls. Uh Russell, myself and Russell um lived together for three years at university, so we sort of know each other really, really well. Um I think it's fantastic uh what him he well him and the rest of Ian and Peter and the rest of the committee have done to get it up and running. I understand the amount of work that must have gone into it to get it up and running. I think it's great what they're doing, as I've mentioned before, for for local football. It's made the island look at football in a in a different light again. It's uh injected a bit of enthusiasm to to football with within Jersey, and and full credit to them, I've got nothing but total respect for each and every one of them for what they've done.
SPEAKER_01Um back to the World Cup. How far do you think the bulls can go in it? How what are your goals for the tournament?
SPEAKER_00Um one goal. You go to a tournament to win it, and that's what I will be looking to looking to do. It's as it's as simple as that. Um there are so many, so many different factors within tournament football. Um, we need to manage the group games um in the appropriate way. That will be squad rotation. We need to manage the players as best we possibly can. Um I'll be making calls and I would imagine that some of the players won't be happy with the calls that I'm making, but I'm thinking of the bigger picture. Um, they might be thinking of the next game, but I'm thinking of the the knockout games that might be a little bit further down the line if we are successful within the group stages. So, yeah, so I'm there to uh to to to manage it as best I can um and hopefully that all the players um the 18 squad that we select buy into that and understand what we're trying to do. And at the end of the day, if we are successful and and lift that World Cup at the end, and they've all been part of that that that journey and that experience whilst we've been there, um that would be uh some feeling. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01Um the future now, what are the plans beyond the World Cup for PowerShell jersey? Where how big do you want this to go?
SPEAKER_00Uh we sort of like to just plane it by ear um currently in the uh at this moment in time. We're really pleased that we've just um secured a two-year sponsorship deal with IQEQ, um, which has obviously helped um considerably from a financial point of view, um getting us to the World Cup this year. Um we do we would like Jersey to host a Kanifa uh event um sometime in the future, whether it's the Euros, whether it's the World Cup, who we we really don't know at this moment in time. Um so we'd like that to happen, we'd like to bring Kanifa to Jersey so that the the the the um the pe the football community on the island can enjoy that. Um and then yeah, we'll just sort of take it season by season. Um realistically, uh each the uh each World Cup um qualifying period is over a two-year period. So once this World Cup finishes, then the world then the the qualify period starts again. So we will need to try and get some some some games in, and that's the same setup for their Euros as well. So there will be a Kanifa tournament every summer, whether it's the Euros or whether it's the World Cup. We'll play it by year, depending on where it is, whether we can uh take part in it year on year. Um and then, yeah, as I said, hopefully bring it to Jersey one day.
SPEAKER_01Cheers to James, and I for one can't wait to see how we get on in North Macedonia, and I am privileged to say that I'll be going and following the team. Keep an eye out and follow the coverage of Kanifa's AGM meeting, which also, as James said, includes the draw for the World Cup. Go follow all their social media and show your support. Thanks, James, for his time. I look forward to be covering and talking to some Kanifa members for Sportscast Jersey as well as James Blower. Thanks for listening and see you in a few weeks.
SPEAKER_02Sportscast Jersey! The voice of Finals.