Chapter 12
🐾🐾 Chapter Twelve🐾🐾
=====>>>🌲Switzerland🌲<<<=====
Continuation
"am not a football fan, but I love footballers, Mark is the only reason why I do watch our school match" Lucy finally replied after waiting for so long
"it doesn't make any difference, you can just watch me play for the first time" James said smiling
"it's just a training, not yet the main match" Mark interrupted although with a calm tone
James wanted to say something when a male teacher came in interrupting the conversation with his greeting
He was actually the game master
"Not having lesson doesn't mean you shouldn't study" The teacher said
He was directing it to Mark, James and Lucy due to her sitting position
"transferred student, to your seat" The teacher added referring to James who turned and found his way to his seat
"Mark" the teacher called for his attention as he stood up immediately showing respect
"yes sir" he replied
"for so many times since we have been engaging in matches, we haven't lost for once but am scared this time around because we don't have much players from final year and from look, our opponents are dangerous in football" the teacher paused
"Their school first eleven are from the final year and we don't have to give up, this is our last match for this set, and I trust you" the teacher added
James frowned on hearing that, he doesn't like seeing Mark being lifted
"So do you have a plan?" the teacher asked
"actually, am still planning on it, the main thing now is the keeper which we already have, we have two main strikers, four good midfielders but one defender, so what am still calculating is the defenders" Mark paused
"our normal formation 4-4-2, so our two strikers are okay, our four midfielder are okay, we only need three more defenders that will assist our only one defender, and that's the most dangerous wing" Mark added
James raised up his hand indicating that he wanted to say something
The teacher gave him go ahead order while he stood up
"I know that Mark is among the strikers and am also a good striker, I will like to replace the other striker, maybe he can try midfielder, just suggesting" James suggested
Another guy raised up his hand and the teacher gave him a go ahead order
"There's no one that can replace our two strikers, they're just the best, maybe you should try another wing" the guy suggested
"you can't just conclude that because never can tell how experienced another is, or better still, let's try another formation where we will have three strikers" James suggested
"we are not even talking about strikers here but defenders, does it mean that it's only striking position that you are good in?" Mark asked referring to James
"well, you people can discuss within you, just note that the match will be next week" the teacher said and excused himself
James rushed back to Mark and Lucy
"have you make your decision?" James asked looking at Lucy
"this dude is crazy" Mark said and walked out of the class
++++
After the dismissal, Lucy has decided to stay a little watching their training after much persuasion from James
Mark and Mikhail went to the dressing room, along with other students who accepted to play
James was still outside with Phillip discussing their plans
Mark was changing but his mind was where James would be
"so who's giving out his striking position to that dude, you or me?" Mikhail asked as they were dressing up
He brought out his jersey from the closet in the room, dropping it on a little stool in the dressing room
"none of us" Mark replied as he removed his top, reviewing his abs
His six pack was killing
"so what's the plan?" Mikhail asked in confusion of not understanding what Mark meant
"I don't need to make a plan, we are testing him today" Mark replied taking up his own jersey and wore it
"if that so" Mikhail simply said as he concentrated on his dressing
James walked in after few seconds
"wow, our strikers are already dressed up, let me rush for mine" James said smiling as he dropped his bag
"oh, please, the training jersey?" James asked looking at Mark
of course the school has their training jersey and also their match jersey
"over there" Mark replied pointing at the closet
"so sweet" James said as he laughed a little
James walked up to the closet and unhanged out a jersey smiling
Phillip did as well as he rushed to change
'am not a good player but I will try my best, I just need to win this game since Lucy likes footballers' James said to himself smiling
'but I wonder how someone will not be a football fan but still yet likes footballers, proving incredible' James added
'I will just have to provoke Mark so that he would be playing with anger and that would make him not to play well" James concluded as he turned
Mark and Mikhail was almost at the door post ready to go when James called for their attention
"you know that she will watch us today" James said smiling
"so?"
"you always like displaying your childish act" Mark said getting pissed off but James didn't seem provoked rather he smiled
"let's watch how it will be" James added bending his head one side
Mark just ignored him and went out making James to laugh
++++
Everyone was set with their jerseys
They were 15 in number including James and Phillip
Lucy and Becky in the other hand was sitting with the game master on benches that surrounded the field as they watched them
Mark was the captain
"I will just serve as a coach now and you will be divided into two groups of seven each" Mark said as they chose their different teams
James in the first-seven group while Mikhail in the other group
Mark first of all asked their main keeper to be in the normal post as he called out James and Mikhail
"let's go with this first, one of you will just be running to the post then I will throw the ball rolling before you, you just have to strike immediately" Mark said
He know that Mikhail was good in it but that's the only way to know about James ability in scoring
James was just shocked on the plan but had to comply
Mikhail was the first to step out
Mark threw the ball rolling, Mikhail with a great speed wired a shot
The keeper dived it but couldn't hold it back because of the angle he places it
Mark clapped for him
James stepped out as well
Mark threw he's but James placed it higher as it went over the bar
He made a sign with his fingers gesturing to throw it again
Mark shrugged and gave him a second chance
He threw it again, James rushed as he stroked but the keeper caught it, even though it has a great speed
James shook his head negatively
Mark just smiled inwardly making sure that it doesn't show
"it's okay, let the match begin" Mark shouted as everyone took their positions
James and Phillip were in the same team
Phillip was a defender but he had never for once participate in the school match but James pleaded him to join, so that he would help him
They started the match
James teams seems stubborn to pass but they couldn't score either
Mark was just busy taking notes of that
Phillip seek for opportunities to place ball on a chance for James to score as they planned but it always gets interrupted
Fortunately, the chance came out but James missed it
Out of anger, James got a ball and started dribbling although he wasn't good enough but he has a plan
He targeted it on Mark as he released the shot
Mark wasn't expecting it and it came fast as it hits him on his forehead making Mark to fell down spitting out bloods
Everyone rushed to him
He got up immediately as he angrily rushed James giving him a punch pushing him backwards
James had to comply because he has a plan
He slowly turned around to check if Lucy was watching them but to his greatest surprise, Lucy was gone
He couldn't believe it, that he wanted to rush Mark but they held him back
They kept struggling until the teacher intervened
"That's all for today" the teacher said as everyone started retiring to where they kept their bags except Mark and Mikhail who were busy checking out if the shot damages anything on his face
his mouth has already swollen
"come to my office now for first aid" the teacher said seeing its condition
+++++
The following day, as normal, they arrived as they used to
Lucy was just surprised seeing Mark with a swollen mouth when he arrived
"oh my God, what happened?" Lucy asked surprisedly as she stood up
James in the other hand turned on hearing that, he wasn't checking on Mark as usual for his act that day, that was why he didn't know when he arrived
"what happened?" Lucy asked again
"it was an accident during our training that yesterday" Mark replied as he dropped his bag
"what? But I thought you weren't among those playing, who did this?" Lucy asked but Mark didn't say a word as he just tried smiling
"sorry, I mistakenly missed the shot" James said as walked to their desk
"and it hits him" James added
Lucy just looked at him then back to Mark
"hope you treated it? " James asked pretending to be concerned while Mark nodded
"don't talk today, I will do the talking for you" James said smiling wickedly but Mark just laughed
Just then, a junior student walked into the classroom and greeted them
He informed Mark that the game master needed his attention
Mark excused himself and went for the call
.....^^^In The Office^^^......
Mark knocked as the game master asked him to come in
"Good morning sir, you sent for me" Mark greeted
"yes, I did, have a seat" the game master said gesturing him to sit while Mark sat
"less I forgot, how is the wound?" the game master asked
Placing his elbow on his table looking closely at Mark
"better sir" Mark replied as he dresses his mouth with his right finger
"sorry for that, so have you finished with your planning?" the game master asked raising up his elbow from the table and relaxed well on the chair
"yes, here is the strategy" Mark replied stretching out a paper before him and the game master collected it
He already know that he would ask for it, that's why he took it along with him while coming
"explain better" the game master said after looking at it
"From what I saw yesterday, James loosed two chances given to him" Mark paused
"I discovered that he's good in clearing ball forward and it's hard for him to score" Mark added pointing at a particular thing in the paper he brought
"so who and who do we have in this game?" the game master asked
"Still on the same formation, 4-4-2, me and Mikhail in the striking position, James, Jason, Kelly and Kelvin in the midfield, although James supposed to be in the defensive position but my conscience is against it, I don't know why" Mark said
He thought maybe after putting James in the defensive position, he would do something that might cause them to loose, that's why he placed him in the middle but he doesn't want to let the game master know about it
"then, Phillip, Luke, Paul and Steve will go for defense, while others will be benched" Mark added while the game master just nodded
"you did the exact arrangement as mine but I placed James as defense, it's not a problem since you have a reason, so we are using yours" the game master said while Mark smiled
"just go and inform others, you guys have be prepared and also be in union because it matters a lot" the game master added as Mark nodded and left smiling
+++++
In the class, Mark announced the participants
Students who knew how good Mark and Mikhail were, in the striking position were happy to hear that
Meanwhile, James and Phillip weren't happy but they couldn't do anything about it
Mark winked at him when he was very sure that Lucy wasn't looking at him
+++++
The following week, it was the match day
There was no school that day because of the match
Exactly at 10 am, everyone were at the field even the opponents were early as well
Everyone gets dressed up as they walked out to the field
"This is when James handsomeness become visible" Becky said touching Lucy
"I guess but where's Mark?" Lucy asked looking at the line up
"Mark??" Becky returned the question
Meanwhile in the other hand, Their opponents were already in the field waiting for Mark's group while they just lined up
The game master was confused walking around
"where's Mark?" he asked looking around
"I have been trying his line but it's not going through, am just confused" Mikhail replied worried
James in the other hand smiled and said inwardly
'good job James' he smiled to himself
Tbc