8 The prelude

Tenzin has always been a prestigious school, creating legendary players like Sam Weller and Morpheus Klieg. The soccer talent they cultivated and sent off to the world was truly some of the best. A new coach came into the team last year and upon his arrival he promoted all the current B team members to the A team, then went around the world scouting for new talent.

The new coach of Tenzin, Frank Martin was an eccentric man. He had weird coaching methods and did things that would seem pointless to the normal eye and today's action was one of them. He challenged Marion High to an exhibition match, it wouldn't change the overall standings or goal tally but he still did it. a decision the club pondered on.

Tony was sent to Marion to check out the team they had and he uncovered the team wasn't settled yet. They were still in the testing phases and Frank would pounce on his opponent's weakness.

They wouldn't participate in the Spring tournament, it was pointless anyway. Most teams used it as training for the league and other tournaments anyway but this time they would use the friendly instead. Tournaments were hosted twice per year by a random team or state, unlike the leagues that were hosted by four or more teams and were done once or twice per year. Tournaments were only available to the first years and second years. The A teams and B teams squads could still participate as long as they fell under the age requirement.

This March's Spring tournament would be hosted by Statham High who were runner-ups in the last one that was hosted and the tournament would go over the course of a month and since Statham High was located over at Wyoming. Anyone trying to participate would have to come all the way and stay until the end of the tournament.

"All the way from Arizona what would they possibly gain from having this match." Joseph asked Paul who was sitting down reading a book."

The coaches' center was a medium-sized office with two desks side by side for Paul and Cory, there was décor on the sides of the walls which were just football magazines from different times stacked on shelves. A small tree in a pot by the door and a water dispenser that was set opposite the desks.

"They're trying to make a statement, create fear knowing they can easily win us. That sorta thing." Paul flipped a page on the book he was reading.

"You seem calm about it." Joseph sat down on Cory's seat.

"Yes. I already know the outcome so it would only make sense that I wouldn't fret." Paul flipped another page.

Joseph was actually the one that scouted Paul for the position of B team coach, he met the now B team coach betting on horse racing. Paul is a proud, decisive and calculative man. Before he takes any important action he weighs up his options and creates an outcome in his mind, to test him Joseph made him guess the correct scores for 5 matches and Paul got four out of five. With the last one being off by one goal.

"That reminds me, how are my players doing?" Paul asked about the condition of the players he sent to the A team as subs.

"Oh, they all have minor injuries. They should be back for the Spring tournament in one piece." Joseph looked at the shelves that housed the books.

"What do you mean by... Minor..."

"You know.... hamstrings, ankles, minor stuff like that." Joseph started whistling.

"What exactly happened?"

"Well. Afeez isn't anywhere as fast as Cody, Danny couldn't command the team as well as Zion could, Ha-Jun's passes were always intercepted and Yuri hasn't stopped one shot. Their injuries are a result of them pushing themselves." Joseph explained.

"Is it helping them?"

"They've evolved, even if it's just the first stage they broke through." Joseph walked toward the door. "What are the scores gonna be anyway?"

"You'd have to pay me to give you predictions you compulsive gambler." Paul continued his book. "Find out yourself after match day."

"You're never any fun." Joseph closed the door behind him.

There was no need to get out of this chair, no matter what happened or how much they trained their outcome is sure but fixed. "Tomorrow, huh." Paul dropped his book and ran through the door, he hated this gut feeling. A feeling that told him there was a way, even when he couldn't see one.

"Going to buy candy, that's actually lame Cha-cha" Aaron said as they walked into a convenience store. "Imagine if the girls see us."

"I like the rush." Chance said calmly.

"That's enough Aaron," Tony said as he grabbed a loaf of bread from a shelf. "The girls probably won't be looking at you anyways."

"Hey! but besides that tomorrow we go all the way to California, just to play Marion." Aaron sighed. "We live in Arizona for Pete's sake, that's like a 10-hour plus trip all for a friendly,"

"It'll be fun." Chance said as he took a bag filled to the brim with an assortment of sweets and chocolate to the counter.

"Somehow I doubt that, coach is definitely going to make us start the trip by 3 in the morning or something. That's the only way we can make it in time." Aaron whined some more.

"Your sleep is very important." Chance said while snacking on a chocolate bar.

"Just as important as your chocolate." Aaron grabbed a bar from Chance's bag.

"Not fair."

"Exactly."

Tony wasn't the most talkative person in the bunch, Chance and Aaron have been his best friends since coming to Tenzin as well as teammates but he didn't like talking unless he was spoken to most times unless he needed to comment.

"Byron... I look forward to our match tomorrow." Tony thought to himself.

"Let's head to the dorms, packing early would be a hundred times better if we do it right now." Aaron started walking toward Tenzin while eating the chocolate bar.

"Yeah right... you just want to sleep."

"Shut up Cha-Cha."

Tony smiled to himself, nobody on his team had nerves or doubted themselves. Not because they were underestimating Marion but because they knew their capabilities. "I wonder what they're serving today for dinner."

"Hopefully it's candy."

"No Cha-Cha, hopefully, it's not."

It was 5 pm already, tomorrow was the day and he wasn't sure if he was prepared. His nerves were going haywire and it was the same for everyone else. They were doing some light evening training assigned to them by Cory to tucker themselves out but their motivation was rock bottom until Paul ran out of the main building.

"2 laps around the field and 15 sit-ups each. Since you wanna train might as well make it worth your while." Paul said and Cory was shocked.

"You're trying to change it..." Cory said in astonishment.

"Nobody wants to lose Cory, same applies to me."

The arrival of the coach got them up on their feet, specified training got them pumped up. Morale was high and all that remained was to play the match. By noon tomorrow Tenzin will touchdown at California and the friendly would start, A friendly match between two of the best teams in the game. Tenzin prefecture versus Marion High.