Candelaria And Marquez Association Football Association

Founded	1911
Region affiliation	Rushmore
President Quentin Vokolos
National Team Manager Elgin Dannat

The Candelaria And Marquez Association Football Association (the CAMAFA) is the governing body of football in the Candelarias, and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of the sport in Candelaria And Marquez and the Outlying Islands.

The CAMAFA was formed as the Candelarias Association Foot-Ball Association in 1911, some years after the establishment of the earliest football clubs in the country and at a time when there was no formal structure of leagues and other tournaments. Few member clubs from that time remain in existence as major forces today, with notable exceptions including Caires Sports and Ironside-Talinger, but the CAFA was successful in organising a plethora of regional competitions that satisfied the growing demand for competitive, amateur football in the islands.

CMSC

The early CAFA grew rapidly in power during the first half of the twentieth century, assuming control of the previously ad hoc national team and bringing the overwhelming majority of amateur clubs under into its membership. In 1935 the National Foot-Ball League was formed as the first nationwide and professional competition in the country, following the success of the earlier CAFA Cup, but in 1964 the member clubs of the NFBL split from the CAMAFA’s direct control and declared the NFBL a separate entity – prompting a long legal battle and a civil war in Candelariasian football.

Following the collapse of the NFBL, the CAMAFA formed the Candelaria And Marquez Soccer Championship, though in time that competition was also effectively self-governing, and had ultimate control over the CMS Cup. Today, though the CAMAFA retains a certain degree of influence within the CMSC and all eighty-six clubs in the competition must still be CAMAFA members (excluding the two Nethertopian clubs in the CMSC system), the country’s domestic league is effectively considered an entirely separate entity. The CMSC board has itself assumed control of refereeing and disciplinary decisions in the league, the licensing of player agents, most of the rules governing youth development and the like, and is generally considered to hold a status easily equal to that of the CAMAFA itself.

Operations

The national FA does however retain control over the senior national team and all national youth sides – including the successful under-21 team, the Olympic team, the futsal side and various disabled teams. Women’s football in C&M remains almost totally under the organisation’s control, including the CAMAFA Women’s Soccer Championship, though the women’s national team is effectively defunct outside of the Olympic Games.

Aside from this, the CAMAFA effectively resembles a conglomerate of bodies, of which the CMSC is a key – if somewhat estranged – part. Other entities under the CAMAFA banner include several dozen regional associations controlling amateur football; the CSAFA, which runs schools competitions for children from the ages of ten to eighteen; the Children’s Executive, which oversees youth football outside of a school environment and is also responsible for the vetting of coaches and other measures aimed at safeguarding young players at amateur and professionals clubs alike; the CAMRA, the union of Candelariasian referees at all levels at responsible for their support and training; the Communities Executive, which is particularly concerned with organising and encouraging football programmes within and between ‘troubled’ communities; and the Diversity Committee, which is likewise responsible for breaking down social barriers and acting against racism, homophobia, and discrimination against players and supporters with physical or mental disabilities.

The organisation’s direct involvement in youth football has decreased in recent years, with professional club academies all now effectively independent. A planned National Football Centre was cancelled in line with a series of cost-cutting measures, including the scaling down of nationalised youth development in the women’s game and the closing of an exchange programme with Jeruselem. Most professional academies have also begun to take on young female players, further decreasing the CAMAFA’s influence.

Otherwise, the CAMAFA is responsible for C&M’s positions on the WCC and EWCC, the country’s external footballing relations, and is the primary organiser of any international football tournaments hosted in the country – including Cup of Harmony 33, Di Bradini Cup 7 and World Cup 44.

Structure

The CAMAFA HQ is located at 16 Bower Street, Albrecht, a block away from the National Football Museum. The organisation has in the past been headed by a Chairman or Chief Executive, but currently so by a President, both formally and administratively. Owen Jones held the role when the CAMAFA entered the international sporting scene, with CMSC President Sam Mc O’Neil then holding the role until the close of WC44 when veteran politician Quentin Vokolos was handed the position. Representatives of the CMSC form the Main Board, with the Council being made up of the heads of the various amateur associations. Several dozen heads of department form the Committee, while the management team consists of Chief Operating Office Rubén Xovi, Director of Football Development Andrew Walker, Commercial Director Damien Wong, Communities Director Adam Farren, Communication Director Freddie Painter and WCC/EWCC Representative Mamdooh Momtaz.

National Football Associations
Achtervolging | Ariddia | Bedistan | Candelaria And Marquez | Casari | Crna Gora Liv Eng | Daehanjeiguk | Dalaborn | Fbrenia | Kernansquillec | Liverpool England | Nova Britannicus | Oliverry | Osarius | Sargossa | Saugeais | Sorthern Northland | Starblaydia | The Islands of Qutar | Taeshan | The Babbage Islands | Trotsgrad