The best of 2024

The year 2024 was not one of the best for the nine teams we are writing about here: Bourj FC, Fayoum SC, Cusco FC, 1. FK Svidník, FK Tryavna 1922, Total Soccer, Maaraba SC, Kamonyi FC, and Maardu Linnameeskond II. The situation was perhaps better, at least in a part of the year, for Bourj FC, Fayoum SC, and Cusco FC. These teams are among the best performers in 2024. Kamonyi FC had a rather average year. The year is one to be forgotten for 1. FK Svidník, FK Tryavna 1922, and Total Soccer. Just like in the previous years, Maaraba SC and Maardu Linnameeskond II did not compete in this year either.

Bourj FC had a good first part of the year and finished in fourth place in the Lebanese Premier League, one of their best ever. Nevertheless, even since the start of 2024, there were rumours that the owner Fadi Nasser will leave Bourj FC, which eventually happened at the end of the 2023-2024. The club survived, with heavy losses, given that many players went away. The 2024-2025 season started in September, but only one round was played, when the season had to be suspended due to Israeli attacks and bombing. Training resumed in December, but it is yet to be confirmed if or when the Lebanese Premier League will resume.

Fayoum SC had a fairly good first part of the year, finishing in second place in Group B of the Egyptian Second Division B. However, this was not enough for promotion to the Second Division A. In the new 2024-2025 season, they started poorly and are among the bottom-classified teams, fighting for survival, instead of promotion.

Cusco FC had their best season in years, finishing in fifth place in the Peruvian Liga 1 and qualifying for the 2025 Copa Sudamericana. Manager Miguel Rondelli succeeded to create a good team, and will continue his work in 2025, as well.

Kamonyi FC had an average performance, finishing in ninth place in Group A of the 2023-2024 Rwandan Second Division. The start of the 2024-2025 season was not great either, as they are in the second half of the table at this moment.

Moving to the big disappointments of 2024, one has to point out that 1. FK Svidník were relegated at the end of the 2023-2024 season of the Slovak Third Division, East Group, as they finished last. Instead of fighting to promote back, they are involved again in the struggle to avoid relagation, this time from the Slovak Fourth League - East Group. Something has to be done quickly to stop the decline.

Even worse, FK Tryavna 1922 stopped competing altogether at senior level in 2024. They finished the 2023-2024 season of the regional Gabrovo League in second place, short of winning (again) the league, but then they did not enrol for the 2024-2025 season, a very heavy blow for football in Tryavna. The club still maintains some of its junior level teams, but the senior team should be back in business as soon as possible.

Total Soccer was another big disappointment in 2024. After two exceptional years, in which the team achieved everything that was possible at amateur level in Colombia, becoming twice champions of the Primera C, in 2024 they were eliminated from Primera C even from the first (group) stage, and they classified second to last in the Antioquia League top tier, Primera A, which will probably involve a relegation to Antioquia Primera B in 2025.

Maaraba SC and Maardu Linnameeskond II saw no action in 2024.

Best team

Cusco FC

Best performance

Alianza Lima - Cusco FC 1-2 (last round of the Peruvian First League, 3 November 2024)

Best manager

Miguel Rondelli (Cusco FC)

Best player

Ivan Colman (Cusco FC)

A Happy New Year to everyone!