OPL; Championship Report

The African Giants go over some pregame tactics before a penalty shootout victory against OFC.2

The Championship Division has always provided a great deal of entertainment for the OPL neutral supporter. Teams come together from outdoor divisions 2 and 3 and compete for one of the few playoff spots over the fifteen match season. This season has been just as close as the race to the top was in 2023/24 and the final five matches should be much of the same.

With league veterans DMA United looking for their first OPL trophy, they have a fairly comfortable five point lead going into the last five matches. New boys Condors were first place for much of the beginning of the season have dropped down to second. Condors President Dylan Nemes is pleased with his team's start to the season but knows the squad needs to keep their momentum going. Rounding out the top five is Lexus (formerly known as Sterling Mutual F.C.) with a game in hand. They who won the title two years ago and declined promotion which is no longer an option in the OPL. Fourth place is Volta who have one of the best supporters groups in the league, followed by second year squad African Giants. Both teams have 6-4 records.

Other new squads to highlight in the OPL Championship are outdoor Division 1 relegation team San's Cuervos Juniors and Lizards C.F. who still have plenty of opportunity. Meanwhile F.C. Ukraine, the feel good story of the OPL, find themselves in the basement with Canadian Brewhouse F.C. It is always an adjustment coming from a full 11 v. 11 game style to our fast paced Super-8 style football and teams are still navigating their tactics.

The league resumes on Sunday January 5th at 8pm with the only match this week; Canadian Brewhouse hoping to win a point off of Lexus Mutual F.C. which sounds like a questionable car salesman-ran bank.

Time will tell if DMA can maintain their lead at the top, and if other squads can sort out a tactical sense to flourish when it matters most here in the latter third of the season.