It has been quite a while since I wrote my last blog, it was in Season 107 to be precise. Hindustan Warriors were in Div 2 Dept 1 back then, and I decided to put in a serious title challenge and win promotion to the top division of the India league. Well, that was not happening that season, but we finally managed to do it the next season. Yes, Season 108. That was when Hindustan Warriors finally managed to win their promotion to Div 1 for the first time.

We managed to win a promotion play-off spot for the first time in season 107 when we finished 3rd in the league after a really tight competition. But the promotion was not actually happening when we crashed out of the play-offs in the first game itself to a much inferior team. We strengthened the team a bit the next season, and this time we won the 2nd spot in the league table. But it was not sure whether we will go up or not given our experience the previous season.

First two play-off matches were tough, almost equal teams, equal ambitions, but we managed to pull it off. Comfortable victories in those matches led us to the third and final play-off. This time a much stronger opponent, the mighty Colossus Warriors, who were more than 8Q above us and great team stats. But we had a slight hope, we fought well, and to our surprise we managed to pull off a 1-0 victory after a close contest. I still wonder how that happened, may be the morale advantage paid off, or the ambition and spirit of our team won, we still remain stunned of how we acheived it.

So season 109 was the first time when we managed to play in Division 1, but the glory did not last for long. It was expected, but the team became a punching bag for the mighty Indian top division teams and we started our campaign with 6 straight losses. The morale of the team was driven down, and that was reflecting the whole season. Nevertheless, the team bought 4 great players that season which drove up the team Q from 83ish to 86. All that was needed to make sure we come back to the top flight in Season 111, was planned and done.

Hindustan Warriors still managed to earn 5 victories that season and secured the 14th spot with 15 points. But straight back to Div 2 Dept 2 we went.

As I write this, we are in round 6 of season 110 and we are already leading the Div 2 Dept 2 league table with 5 wins off 5 games. The team's goal is to bounce back into Div 1 once again next season, even though hopes of surviving there is meagre with a Q86 team. But we already have the experience and the spirit to fight in the top division, and we believe we can perform much better during our return to the top flight next season.

Until Season 107 Hindustan Warriors had never thought about promotion to Div 1, partly because they never thought they could acheive it with their low Q and partly because of the fear of coming back straight down relegated. However that all changed after a great performance in Season 106 finishing 4th after a great race for a play-off place. I decided we can do it this time even with our sort of Q with the right tactics. Yes, we could come down again to Div 2 next season as we stood no chance against the big guns of Div 1, but that was in no way demotivating us from putting up a serious promotion challenge.

The team had an average Q of 81 at the start of the season. Looking at the Qs of the top teams in the department, any hopes of winning it seemed far and wide. But we were contend to even fight for a play-off spot and taking up the challenge was more important for us than fulfilling it. The prospect of playing in the top division of Indian league kept us motivated.

There were 7 teams in the department with higher Q than us, but seeing half of those managers were not very active gave us great hope. The plan was to heavily beat the lower Q teams and use that gain in morale to our advantage against bigger teams. The squad depth needed to be addressed however, and we brought in three youth players to do that and also as an investment for the future.

The start wasn't that great with a draw with Chalakkudi Gadies and loss against KKR FC, but all went well and as planned after that. And after round 14, we were placed 3rd in the table, a feat that some believed unacheivable initially. And then came the toughest matches of the season. League match against the mighty Colossus Warriors and a Dept Cup against the same team that followed in the next round. We managed to draw the league match in a very tight game. We almost got through to the semi-finals of the Dept Cup as well with a solid perfomance against the biggest team in the department. But lady luck was not in our favour and we crashed out in penalties after a 3-3 draw at the end of extra time.

Those two matches gave us great boost to our morale. But unfortunate injuries to to two of our main players saw us dropping points in rounds 16 and 17 of the league. We also crashed our of the League Cup in a match we should have won otherways, but anyways we are close to acheiving our goal this season and are determined to fight till the last match.

As I am writing this, I am eagerly awaiting the 19th league game of Season 107. Placed 5th in the league table 5 points behind the league leaders, we know it is going to be a really tight race for the play-off spot. But we hope the determination and committment of our players would surely help us go up this season. It should be easy opposition in the next 5 games in the league, our performance in those matches will surely seal our fate.

Starting in the International League, my club Hindustan Warriors was fast growing into a formidable opposition for most teams. We managed to climb up to Div 3 in no time and I decided to move to Indian league as that was my natural destination. Played a couple of seasons in Indian league and the club was heading in the very right direction. Unfortunately I had to get out of ManagerLeague for a while due to real life issues. We were in Div 2 when the team was reset due to inactivity, and all achievements for more than a year dissolved into thin air.

But my passion for this game forced me to come back, this time starting in Indian league Div 4, one season prior to the legendary 100th season in ML history. Not getting involved as much as before and just logging in once or twice a week to keep the team alive, I was just being a passive player on ML. Still we managed to top our department filled with bots twice in a row, and by the third season we were playing in Div 2. Not playing much friendlies to develop the team, the club had no chance to get promoted to the top division, and I was happy to roam around in Div 2.

That all changed in season 105, when I decided to be more serious. Despite my best efforts, we were able to finish only in 4th position for two consecutive seasons. But I raised a bit of money to invest for the future by selling our star players. Last season (106) we were able to produce an average performance of 60.63 with a Q81 team which was just above the department average strength.

As we prepare for a serious promotion challenge this season (107), I am still not sure if we can make it this time around. We will try to the last minute, and if we fail we target to do it atleast by next season. Team Q is at 81 at the start of the season, and I hope to get good gains for my youngsters this season. So on your feet my opponents, Hindustan Warriors are coming....