First Day

Emmanuel, Jack and Tommy woke up at 8 am and quickly got up for training. They were required to meet up on the field.

On for Monday schedule, it stated:

Warm-up coaching by FA qualified coaches 8:00 am

2-hour training sessions X practice matches 8:30 am

School 9:30 am

Strength and conditioning gym programme developed for each player 5:00 pm

The nutrition plan and guidance 6:00 pm

Homework and tactic analysis 6:30 pm

Free-time 7:15 pm

Bedtime 8:30 pm

Emmanuel thought the schedule was packed and productive, but he seemed to like it. There was nervousness and excitement between all three of them.

********

There was a group of players and coaches standing in the middle of the field. Players were eagerly waiting for their instructions.

Coach Wilson announced, " Everyone form partners for the warm-up."

[And of course, Jack is alone] Emmanuel realized.

He had never really looked at Jack closely. Wavy brown hair with bangs, short enough that it did not block his eyes. Eyes that were exposed to be hazelnut brown in colour. All beautiful mixed with a body frame of 176 cm, which was considered tall for his age. Jack could probably get a load of girls, but his cold and indifferent personality got in the way.

Fortunately, Coach Wilson made Jack join Emmanuel and Tommy since there was an extra person.

They were instructed to take the person's right leg again and cross it over their body, allowing the knee to bend. At the same time, they pressed their right knee down with their right hand to increase the twist through the spine. And hold it for 30 seconds and switch sides. Each person took turns doing it while the other person was helping them.

Coach then instructed them to do a pulse raiser by jogging around the field once with their group. The drill was not a race, so they took it seriously, at not a slow or fast pace.

******************

Everyone went through several drills such as dribbling, passing, shooting and defence. Most people tried their best while others did the minimum to pass.

And then came a practice match of 5v5. It was a drill where you had to do eight passes before you could score. Emmanuel was with boys who had been in the academy for a long time. Excited to play, Emmanuel's team kicked off.

The game wasn't how he envisioned it at all, as his teammates ignored his call for passes, and he barely got to touch the ball. This led him to be hostile and make harsh fouls on opponents.

Coach Wilson pulled him off to the side furiously and stated," What the hell are you doing! You think not getting passed makes you inclined to make hard fouls. What the hell have you done to earn their respect? You think since you are in the midfield you get to dictate the play."

"But ...", Emmanuel interrupted.

"Earn respect before thinking you are hot stuff, prove to everyone you deserve to be here," Coach Wilson replied.

This sentence repeated in Emmanuel's head when getting ready to go to school.

[I never want to be treated like that again, they might think football is a game to me, but it is my life. From here on out, I will earn everyone's respect through results and hard work.] Emmanuel thought while on the bus.

**********

The school that Emmanuel was going to was in a partnership with West Ham. It was an excellent school with one of the best exam results in the borough and highly respected in their sports programs.] The school name was Wickton School.

As Emmanuel entered the school, the shiny and waxed floor hallway shone under the sunlight. He strolled to his new year 10 class. Emmanuel opened the door, where he had been welcomed with a bunch of stares.

With some confidence, Emmanuel stated, "My name is Emmanuel Gompel, and nice to meet you all."

The teacher directed him to the desk he would sit at the back of the classroom. Emmanuel was sitting at a desk next to a girl on his right and a boy on his left. He was looking forward to making new friends, but he still was thinking about practice.

A girl with midnight-black hair that passed her shoulders sat next to Emmanuel.

"Hi, my name is Oliva. Are you new?" Oliva asked.

"Yeah," Emmanuel replied.

Oliva pointed to the boy sitting next to Emmanuel and said, "Don't worry, my friend Leo, and I will show you around."

Leo was laying his head on the desk, trying to get good sleep. He woke up with half-open eyes, his golden hair shone under the sun.

"Huh, what did you say? I am too tired to do that." Leo responded.

"Come on, do it as a favour. I will buy you some sweets," Oliva stated.

"Fine," Leo reluctantly agreed.

"Don't mind him, Emmanuel, Leo has been like that since we were young," Oliva said, shifting the focus back to Emmanuel.

"Stop talking in the back row," the teacher declared with an irritated tone.

*************

After class had ended, Oliva and Leo directed Emmanuel to the lunch hall. They had all sat at the back table of the hall, discussing themselves.

Suddenly a random question popped up, Leo asked, " So what's your deal? Weirdly, you would change schools a year before the GCSE exams. "

"Sorry about Leo, he is a straightforward type of person, but I am also wondering why," Oliva added.

Emmanuel thought to tell the truth, but he didn't want too much attention. Also, he thought that people would become friends with him so they could use him.

"I moved and this school is close to where I live," Emmanuel answered. He had responded to the question with a hint of truth but not all of it.

"Now, let's switch the subject," Oliva quickly stated, trying to clear away the heavy atmosphere.

" So any hobbies like sport or music?" Oliva asked.

" I like to read and play some games like FIFA," Emmanuel replied.

"Enough talking, let's eat. I am hungry," Leo interrupted.

********

Emmanuel had finished school, it was tiring having to introduce himself some many times in a day. But he still had to do gym work and tactics analysis.

He was introduced to his personal trainer,Frank, who will design his exercise plan and nutrition plan. Frank wanted to first focus on stamina and flexibility and when Emmanuel was older he would do strength exercise. Emmanuel did some cardio, a jog and some yoga for one hour.

After a quick shower, he had a dinner consisting of chicken breast,broccoli and sweet potatoes. He didn't imagine the food to be this good but he would still love to eat his mum's homemade peri peri chicken and rice.

*******

Emmanuel relaxed on his bed, trying to rejuvenate his energy but there was restlessness deep inside him. The images of his first training session flashed through his mind. Quickly he put on his tracksuit and jogged to the football pitch with football in his hand.

He stood just outside the penalty box and positioned himself to shoot from distance. With every shot he took, he released his rage from the practice match.

Unknowingly, Coach Wilson was walking past. "At least the kid got heart," Coach Wilson said and after he chuckled going inside.