Chapter 16: Go on the Stage!

The watchers of the match were surprised.

But Bologna fans were very happy.

Because a 16-year-old football player would play on the Roma team.

They were hopeful of having an overly inexperienced goalkeeper on their opponent.

Before the game, both teams were warming up.

Captain Totti came to Helder.

"Are you excited?" he asked.

"No, captain." he just said.

Totti had been following Helder closely since summer camp.

He liked his behavior, personality, and point of view on football.

He was even more surprised the more he watched him through summer camp training sessions.

Totti couldn't believe he was 16 years old.

He even asked this when his summer camp training was over.

"It's like you've been playing football for 30 years, are you really 16?" he asked with a laugh.

He had a slight smile on Helder ...

***

There were a few minutes before the match started.

One of the Bologna audience was looking at Helder and was thinking this.

"This goalkeeper is like a giant!"

Indeed, Helder was 1.93 meters tall.

He was blonde and broad-shouldered.

He had a straight physique.

He was so tall and physically that he had great reflexes.

Helder, who last played in the 1970 World Cup Semifinals, was playing once again in 2011.

"I have waited 16 years for today. I will do many things that I could not do or succeed in my previous life, you have to believe in yourself. But first, you have to focus on this match. Calm down. You are experienced. Breathe deeply and exhale calmly. You have achieved a lot of success in the Roma youth team for 4 years, you can do it." he was reaffirming his confidence in himself.

He had called his family on the phone the day before the game.

His mother burst into tears with joy when he told them that he would be the goalkeeper for the match.

His parents still live in Turkey, but at a young age, Helder sent half the money earned from the club signing a professional contract with the Roma family club.

The family was relieved from Turkey than in money terms and they were happy.

In his first professional contract, he agreed on 1500 euros per week. He was making 72,000 euros annually. Normally the Roma club would not give this money for initial contracts. But since many clubs watched Helder, they didn't want to lose their hands. Thus, they dealt with the contract without any problems.

Also, Helder did not have any expenses. He was staying on the club premises, eating on the club premises.

During this 4-year period, he established close relations with all the employees of the club.

Employees loved Helder as their own son.

Because Helder was not like today's footballers. He was not looking at anyone from above. He wanted to help everyone. On one occasion, Susan's child, who was a cook at the club, fell ill. Helder had overheard what was spoken after training and asked for the address of the house from Susan, made soup with his own hands, took care of the boy. "

Helder was showing exemplary behavior to everyone at the age of 16.

The young team men were also proud of both their performance on the field and their human relations.

In fact, one of the young team coaches thought, "Helder is the future captain after Totti ..."

Who knows at a certain time he could justify him.

Perhaps it would be the other way around ...

***

And the referee blew the whistle that started the match.