Stories are all works of fiction. Names, characters, place and events are the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events and places is totally coincidental
Within twenty fours hours of bumping into Zeke and company, things started to happen, all my worries about not getting the players for my team evaporated. I was virtually bumping into prospects everywhere I went. I was at the movies when an acquaintance leaned over from the seats behind and whispered in my ear that he had a talented friend he would like me to meet, I agreed and that is how I met Ade. This guy looked and acted older than he really was and because I was impressed with his demeanour, I agreed to try him out. The only condition Ade impressed upon me was that his parents must never find out about this and I promised him my discretion.
Ade sailed through our football trials with flying colours. He was truly gifted and quite modest about it. I found out later that this guy was gifted in other areas as well and was an academic high flyer, that was why his parents were totally against him playing football. They would rather he concentrated on his studies and make something of himself in society. By the end of that week, I had a team.
With the registration and all fees paid by Jackie's uncle, the team was ready to go. We were now eagerly looking forward to the match fixtures that the organisers were contracted to arrange. We also wouldn't know how many teams would be competing for the prize until the deadline for registering was reached. I was both excited and intimidated because I had a reputation, unlike my team mates most of whom were virtual unknowns. The only comfort was the fact that I already made the decision to keep goal and this role would enable me to actually monitor our performance during the competition.
Finally the deadline for registration came and went. The tension while we were waiting for the fixtures list to be published ratcheted up ten fold. We were all nervous, not knowing which teams will head the fixtures list. Nobody wanted to play the opening match, especially myself. I needed to see and assess a few teams before we played, so I can work out a game plan depending on which side we are pitted against. There will be no room for errors in this contest, every match must be won with the winning team moving on to the next round and the losing side knocked out of the contest for sure. Those were the rules.
My biggest worry was Ade, I prayed fervently that our fixture dates will make it easy for him to show up and play. Since bringing him into my team, he had been a revelation, everything about the way he played soccer was a joy to watch. He also had a technique for taking corner kicks that enabled him to bend the ball into the goal from the corner flag without anyone touching it. This boy was the complete package. With both him, and Etemeke's quick feet, I had no doubt that I had a special strike force that would engineer goals from nothing. All I needed to do was make sure that our defence and midfield was competent enough to complement my strike force.
Within twenty fours hours of bumping into Zeke and company, things started to happen, all my worries about not getting the players for my team evaporated. I was virtually bumping into prospects everywhere I went. I was at the movies when an acquaintance leaned over from the seats behind and whispered in my ear that he had a talented friend he would like me to meet, I agreed and that is how I met Ade. This guy looked and acted older than he really was and because I was impressed with his demeanour, I agreed to try him out. The only condition Ade impressed upon me was that his parents must never find out about this and I promised him my discretion.
Ade sailed through our football trials with flying colours. He was truly gifted and quite modest about it. I found out later that this guy was gifted in other areas as well and was an academic high flyer, that was why his parents were totally against him playing football. They would rather he concentrated on his studies and make something of himself in society. By the end of that week, I had a team.
With the registration and all fees paid by Jackie's uncle, the team was ready to go. We were now eagerly looking forward to the match fixtures that the organisers were contracted to arrange. We also wouldn't know how many teams would be competing for the prize until the deadline for registering was reached. I was both excited and intimidated because I had a reputation, unlike my team mates most of whom were virtual unknowns. The only comfort was the fact that I already made the decision to keep goal and this role would enable me to actually monitor our performance during the competition.
Finally the deadline for registration came and went. The tension while we were waiting for the fixtures list to be published ratcheted up ten fold. We were all nervous, not knowing which teams will head the fixtures list. Nobody wanted to play the opening match, especially myself. I needed to see and assess a few teams before we played, so I can work out a game plan depending on which side we are pitted against. There will be no room for errors in this contest, every match must be won with the winning team moving on to the next round and the losing side knocked out of the contest for sure. Those were the rules.
My biggest worry was Ade, I prayed fervently that our fixture dates will make it easy for him to show up and play. Since bringing him into my team, he had been a revelation, everything about the way he played soccer was a joy to watch. He also had a technique for taking corner kicks that enabled him to bend the ball into the goal from the corner flag without anyone touching it. This boy was the complete package. With both him, and Etemeke's quick feet, I had no doubt that I had a special strike force that would engineer goals from nothing. All I needed to do was make sure that our defence and midfield was competent enough to complement my strike force.
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