FIRST DAY AT WORK

"Thank you for the ride and here is the taxi fare" David said smiling at the taxi driver as he alighted from the taxi he boarded to his new workplace 'the Alabama state University' an institution known for its expansive array of academic programs. The Alabama state University was founded in 1867 in Marion Ala., as a school for African Americans the school started as the Lincoln normal school with 500 dollars raised by nine formaly enslaved men now famously known as the Marion nine making Alabama state University one of the nation's oldest institutions of higher education founded for black Americans. However Mr David Ferguson was a proud white American in his early thirties with brown hair, blue eyes and had an oval face with a deep brown scar at the right cheek. He was 184 cm tall and one glance at him would make you know that he was someone that loved to visit the gym because he possessed an athletic body with his bulging arms, double shoulders and broad chest very visible as he put on black cooperate shirt and routeen Jetta grey slim fit trousers and smartly polished brown brogues. After alighting from the taxi, he headed straight to the administrative block were he was scheduled to meet with Dr Joshua Davids who was the college director of sports in his office. David was so excited to be a new employee of the Alabama state University. He was proud that a new door of opportunity was open for him and felt somewhat fulfilled knowing that he was going to lead the hornets (_the nickname of the Alabama state University Soccer team_) who participated in the South Western Athletic Conference league, a tournament under the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

David Ferguson had previously worked as the head coach of the Arkansas state University Soccer team that participated in the Sun Belt conference league but was sacked after the team got relegated to a lower division which was the second tier of the sun belt conference league and received a vote of no confidence from the college players and other members of the technical department. That was two seasons ago, it sure was a tough one for David to swallow but that was in the past and all that was in David's mind was getting ready for the new season and getting prepared for whatever challenges that may lie ahead.

David was not a novice when it came to sports especially football cause at fourth grade he was already the assistant coach of his highschool Soccer team back in North Carolina his state of origin. Rival highschool Soccer teams were surprised seeing a student as part of the technical crew, although it seemed out of place for him to be in the dugouts as the assistant coach, none of that mattered to David cause that was his passion and he knew he had a lot to offer. Seeing his tactics and ideas work out positively for his team always gavet him joy and fortunately his highschool team was successful in domestic tournaments a couple of times and as such he was held in high regard among his Soccer friends and his teachers. Dave was not a super intelligent guy, his smartness and intelligence towards Soccer would make you think he was always ahead of his classmates academically, however he was not dumb because he always managed to pass his continuous assessments and exams. His passion for coaching made him study sports administration in the Arkansas state University and after college education he travelled to England were he attended the university of Wolverhampton. There he bagged a bachelor's degree in football coaching and performance all thanks to the financial assistance of his elder brother Mason Ferguson who was a medical doctor there in England. He travelled back to the USA and sometime after that he got a job at his Alma mata to be the head coach of the Arkansas state University Soccer team.

All Joshua's relations admired his passion for soccer coaching and were amazed by his tactical knowledge of the various formations, positions, and the various styles of play adopted by the top teams in Europe. His father Dylan Ferguson was not interested in David's love for soccer he usually scolded him telling him that the time and energy he put towards soccer and the study of the different styles of play was being wasted "I wonder when you would be a normal kid for once, the only thing in your head is soccer soccer soccer" Mr Dylan believed that his son was smart enough to be an A+ student but he felt that David was just distracting himself. In all these David never listened to his father and he refused to let anything he said affect him. For him his mother Betty ferguson was all he needed to keep his passion alive. Mrs Betty who never saw anything wrong in her son doing whatever he loved usually gave him a pat on the back and smiling at him she always told him to follow his dreams and encouraged him to become an expert in anything he loved that was admirable, legit, and praiseworthy so that he would be celebrated but she warned him not to put all his eggs in one basket "be willing to try anything" David always held her words of encouragment dear to his heart.

While in the administrative building David was able to trace the office of Dr Joshua David with the help of some staffs he came across with. Dr Joshua on sighting David was delighted "hey if it isn't Mr David Ferguson, I am delighted to see you man, I've been expecting you" Dr Joshua said smiling "how is your day?"

"My day is splendid" David said "how is yours sir?"

"Oh mine is good" Dr Joshua replied "hope you brought your resume and other academic certificates of yours cause you're gonna be meeting with the college president so he can recognize you as the new soccer coach and then check you in as a new employee" he continued "um yes I brought all of them as you told me to" David said as he scanned through his file bag to be sure everything was intact, Dr Joshua waited until David finished scanning his file bag and convinced he hadn't left anything behind. "Um you're sure?"

"Yes everything is absolutely intact" David replied. "Okay then without much further ado let's head for the college President's office."

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"So how was your meeting with the college president" Dr Joshua asked

"Oh it was great, he was excited to meet me, I didn't even believe that he had some passion for soccer." David grinned. David was thrilled for some moment after his meeting with Dr Michael king the college president because not only was he excited to meet the college's new soccer coach he also wanted to to know more about his education and experience as a soccer coach. He was satisfied at the fact that David got some coaching education from Europe but what thrilled David the most about Dr Michael king was the fact that he was a Manchester United fan. "Uh, Dr king, he is a devoted Man United fan and ever since I knew him his love for soccer and Man United has never changed" Dr Joshua said "let's get to my office so we'll discuss about some things."

On reaching Dr Joshua's office David Ferguson was now at ease and was less nervous compared to the first time he entered the office. He was now comfortable enough to admire the office which was decorated with trophies and medallions, that showed how successful the college was with regard to sports. There were also photos of successful athletes that won trophies which included American football, basketball, baseball, lawn tennis, hockey, track and field and also soccer, though that photo of the successful soccer team was taken six years ago. While staring at the photo of the jubilant soccer team he noticed how happy and satisfied the coach in the photo looked while holding the South Western Athletic Conference league cup, for a moment he wished he was in his shoes because that was a similar trophy he coveted while he was the coach of the red wolves of Arkansas state University, though the trophy the red wolves were fighting for was the Sun Belt conference League trophy. "Who's the coach right here" he asked pointing at the direction where the photo of the jubilant players where. Oh that's Mr Lewis Smith" Dr Joshua answered "he is the most successful soccer coach this University has ever had, we enjoyed a whole lot of success, fame, and recognition all around the country during his time as coach. He built a very good team of very talented soccer players, some of whom were drafted by some Major League Soccer teams, he was very passionate about his job." David was amazed and felt envious on hearing the success and pride Mr Lewis Smith brought to the university. "So where is he now, this Mr Lewis Smith?"

"Uh he got employed with a Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy, he works there now as the head of youth development" Dr Joshua replied David raised his eyebrows "wow he sure was a hell of a coach to be able to secure that kind of a job, who knows, he might get the job of the head coach of LA Galaxy" David began to imagine what it felt like to be recognized as an elite college soccer coach. "But are not here to talk all day about Mr Lewis Smith are we?" Dr Joshua tried to get David's attention after noticing his long peer at the photo of the jubilant Mr Lewis Smith led soccer team, "no no we aren't" David turned to Dr Joshua feeling a bit ashamed that he had been caught off guard peering at the picture that described everything he hoped to achieve as a college soccer coach, anyway he knew he now had a chance to achieve such similar success and get his name written in the history books of the Alabama state University and possibly get a photo of him and his players jubilating in the same way Mr Lewis Smith was with his team. Although this was not the first opportunity David was given to achieve the success he craved for, but he saw this one as a fresh start, a new opportunity to correct his mistakes, right his wrongs, prove something to those who doubted him. "Anyway Mr Ferguson I am aware you are not very familiar with the ASU soccer team aka _'the hornets'_

Because from what I learnt about you from your resume you never participated in the South Western Athletic Conference league. Your previous appointment was with the red wolves of the Arkansas state University which participates in the Sun Belt Conference league which shows that you've got some college soccer experience, not only that, also according to your resume you bagged a bachelor's degree in football coaching and performance at the university of Wolverhampton and just to let you know, that degree you got from Wolverhampton England, that's what attracted me to you, that is what made me distinguish you from the the other applicants." Dr Joshua said "we are not in good times here with regards to Soccer at the moment, we barely survived the S.W.A.C division one last season and the three seasons that preceded last season was summed up with average performances far from what we put up six years ago." The Alabama state University had a good history in the South Western Athletic Conference because the Alabama state University department of intercollegiate athletics was the home of the best student athletes in the S.W.A.C having won 81 conference championships since joining the conference in sports such as track and field events, baseball, basketball, American football, hockey, lawn tennis and soccer. However not only were the hornets dominant in the S.W.A.C they extended their dominance to the commissioners championship level in which for soccer they bagged seven commissioners cups in the last fifteen years the best performance by any university in the last twenty years. "After the resignation of Mr Lewis Smith, the team lost their footing" Dr Joshua said "we had two coaches before your appointment but both coaches were unavailable to build a formidable team that would restore our past glories there were serious complaints and discontent over the quality of players recruited, the training systems and of course the poor results, so both coaches had to be relieved of their duties, now due to the poor performance of our soccer players a lot of our students have lost interest in soccer and our soccer fan base is reducing in number, I am concerned about this because I am a devoted soccer fan and my office is charged with the responsibility of developing soccer in this University, although other sports are included but my priority is soccer." Now David understood how Dr Joshua felt, he knew what it felt like to be under extreme pressure especially when it relates to something he was passionate about. "Yes sir I understand how you feel, and I want to let you know that I would try my best to restore the glory of this University, you have my word." David said trying to assure Dr Joshua of his absolute best. "Yes I know you would give your best but I pray and hope that best would result to us attaining the desired results, and to let you know, this job is not going to be as easy as you think, there would be tough times, but I am willing to give you every support you need." Well that statement from Dr Joshua was reassuring and certainly made David feel better after learning about the the tough job he was expected to handle, he knew the job was not going to be easy but he had it at the back of his mind that failure would mean him getting relieved of his duties for the second time. "So with that being said let's head to your new office... Uh before we move any questions?" Dr Joshua became curious about what ever may pop up from David's mouth. "No sir I'm good to go, can't wait to see my new office." David said cheerfully.

Dr Joshua drove David in his car a Lexus Es 300h to what would be the office of the new coach of the hornets. His office was in a building situated close to the Alabama state University soccer complex the home ground of the hornets. The Alabama state University opened in 2012, it was located on the east side of the Alabama state University campus and in the shadows of the new stadium, the natural grass facility was one of the catalyst to the success of the 2015 commissioners cup an edition that was claimed to be the best ever played in the country.

David was taken to his new office, introduced to some staffs that occupied the building, he was warmly welcomed and he felt happy to have acclaimed this responsibility and of course this new challenge.