Chapter 25: Grasping the chances
"The North African sun is really restricting us here. Our training session are at low intensity and still heavily affecting the players, really a factor I hate and can't control." Spenza said as he, Klaus and North sat in the shade of the coach's bench, watching the players train.
"Are you thinking of a slow-paced tactic for Saturday, could really help in this situation." North said, also watching on.
"No, too little time. I'm rather thinking of benching our high energy players for the last 15-20 minutes and use them as impact subs." Spenza replied.
"A good idzea, but zat would require a high drop in our overall quality depending on the players we drop, and we only have 5 subs, meaning 5 players have to play the full 90, and the goalkeeper." Klaus said, bringing a tactic board next to Spenza.
"Not only that, but Royal Pharaohs play a high intensity high pressing game from the get-go that demands our wingers and fullbacks to play a fast-paced game that will probably drain them before the half time whistle. So, our first four players we are subbing out are chosen, but who will be the fifth?" Spenza said, removing the fullbacks and wingers from the tactics board.
"Mateo would be the primary choice, but he is really good at preserving his energy, runs only when he moves into space, plays short passes and draws play to himself, so he won't be running much." North said.
"How about Taiko, he is a powerful winger and has been playing as the right centre middle fielder for the two games, he has a high energy output too. He can be the link to complete our strategy." Klaus said, seemingly pointing to a spot on the board written number 16 as Spenza and North both smiled...
On the field, the entire team was doing short drills playing around with each other and laughing as the coaches called everyone over.
"Listen up, everyone, five of our regular starters won't be starting this time. Ryan Davids, Kyle van Jaarsveld, Andile Manzuel, Zuko Skhosana and Taiko. Replacing them will be Tebogo Mosimang at RB for Kyle, Klein Koomstad at LB for Ryan, Charles Quaint'e for Taiko, Bradley Adams for Andile and Luvuyo Memela for Zuko." Spenza said as everyone clapped hands as the names were announced.
"To the guys that were dropped, don't worry. It's a tactical change, we will explain the details later. To those chosen, this is an opportunity to kick these guys of the starting lineup. Grab it with both hands." North said.
"That is all, back to light training."
Three of the chosen players just walked back together, Bradley Addams, Klein Koomstad and Luvuyo were all under-19 players who had been called up for the pre-season camp but somehow, they had stayed with the first team squad even after the league began. All three of them were in their teens, Bradley had just turned 18 whilst the other two were 16 having skipped the under-17 squad all together. They had formed their own mini group of forgotten players who just travelled with the senior team, the water bottle boys.
"Ok guys, I'm pissing my pants right now. How do we proceed?" Bradley said as the three huddled up in a circle.
"Ain't you the adult here?" Luvuyo said, looking at Bradley.
"Shut, at least you have played in pre-season. I was thinking we just escape from the hotel and make a run for it. Our room is on the first floor anyway." Klein said, imagining a scenario where they jump out the window a run across the desert night.
"Too obvious three foreign teenagers in such tourist heavy country, we would be found by midnight. we should fake our deaths and force them to cancel the match for our funerals. Then jump out of the coffins when they get lowered." Luvuyo said, imagining a scenario where they jump out of, their coffins scaring everyone thinking they are zombies.
"Nah, they'd just kill us themselves. We need a plan that allows us to just skip the match." Bradley said, as they all hummed with serious faces.
"You could just fake a serious cough." A voice said from behind them as they all got lightbulbs on their heads.
"That is such a brilli..an..t I..de..a.." Klein said as they all realised who it was and changed their faces immediately.
"We are fucked!" Bradley said as they all turned their heads to see an angry Spenza rubbing his fist.
3 minutes later.
The three sat on the bench all bruised up apologising to coach Spenza.
"You three are starting and that is the end of it." Spenza said walking away.
"Is a 30 broken bones and intensive head trauma reason to skip the match?" Bradley said, raising a broken finger.
"Nooooo!" Spenza stated.
2 days later.
Matchday at the Pharaoh's Palace, Supa Strikas visit Pharaohs FC in this top of the table clash. Supa Strikas have just seen of a powerful Royal Casablanca whilst Pharaohs are simply unbeatable by the looks of it. No notable changes from Pharaohs FC, wearing a star black kit with red outlines, as Star striker Ahmed El Hamdi leads the frontline. Five changes for a Supa Strikas in yellow and red, as Charles Quaint'e comes on for Taiko Hashimoto, Tebogo Mosimang comes on for Ryan Davids and three under-19 payers make their first starts for the men in red. Surprised to see their two wingers Andile and Zuko out of the starting line-up.
The players began walking out into the field as a full stadium cheered.
"We aren't nervous right?" Bradley said, wearing the number 28 jersey.
"I'm this close to running out of here. Don't start." Luvuyo said, wearing the number 27.
"Let's get this match over and done with please." Klein said, with tears in his eyes wearing the number 26 jersey.
"Don't worry kids, just think of this as a kickabout with friends, you'll be fine. Good luck." Mark said, wearing training clothes as he walked past them brushing Bradley's hair.
"Yes captain!" All three said in unison standing like soldiers with serious faces.
"Oh capitaine' don't I get a good luck speech?" Charles said, wearing the number 18 jersey with a devilish smile.
"You are a grown ass man, now go out there and don't fuck up." Mark said, with a demeaning look towards Charles.
Mark went to the bench to sit next to Andile and the others as the teams walked out onto the field to begin the match. The game started on a calm footing with Pharaohs passing the ball around trying to draw in the Supa Strikas middle field but only the wingers pressed, Bradley and Luvuyo immediately advanced chasing the ball at a crazy speed.
"Charles, aren't you supposed to be pressing as well?" Theo said.
"I ain't about to chase a ball like a dog for 90 minutes, what sort of idiot do you think I am?" Charles said, walking slowly across the field.
The game continued this way, for about 5 minutes until Pharaohs decided to advance, they managed to evade Bradley and Luvuyo, but Klei and Tebogo immediately managed to press on the wings so good that Pharaohs were forced to pass back and play the ball around to 18-yard box.
"Yazi*, I don't get why you played that idiot out of everyone in the squad. He is probably the laziest, most vile human being I have ever passed the ball to." Mark said as the match continued on the sidelines.
"Look at you putting Zulu in your English. You must really hate the guy." Spenza said, laughing.
"Nah, I don't hate the guy, I just don't like his type of football. dirty, lazy football that puts Shame to everyone who has ever laced a pair of boots." Mark replied, seemingly frustrated.
"I know, I also hate it. But truth of the matter is, his type of football is exactly what we need right now. He is a lazy player, and the thing about lazy people is, they always find the easiest way to do something. Our objective is three-fold, 1. to mentally frustrate the Pharoah players so they make more mistakes, 2. to tire them out so our bomb squad can beat them in the final 30 minutes, and 3. to get the ball as soon as they get into the final third."
"Klein, Tebogo, Luvuyo and Bradley are doing the first and third ones to perfection, but Charles seems to be floating aimlessly without helping at all." Andile said, slouching on the bench.
"Firstly, stop slouching like that and sit upright, secondly, that's not what he is doing, watch more closely." Spenza said as a whistle blew.
The referee has blown the whistle, foul on Charles Quaint'e. The Pharaoh striker El Hamdi is complaining that he did nothing, but the referee gives him a yellow card.
"You know I didn't do anything you dirty player. French fraud, that's what you are." Ahmed said, seemingly wanting to fight with Charles.
"But you did, my leg is bruised because of you." Charles said, seemingly smirking whilst holding his foot in pain.
"Get away from him or I will give you another one. It's an indirect freekick since it is in his own half. Goalkeeper come and take it please." the referee said as Arthur took the ball and placed it just outside the box.
Arthur raised his hand to signal a long pass, he shot the ball up into the sky and it landed a couple meters in front of Mateo who just passed it to his right where Bradley was. Bradley ran with the ball and crossed it to Luvuyo who shot a volley into the back of the net and scored.
"GOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllll" 16-year-old Luvuyo Memela has just scored and broken the deadlock, what a cross by Bradley Adams.
"I see, Charles, has done all three, in a minute. Took the ball and destroyed this team both Mentally and physically." Andile said.
"Care to explain how he did the mental and physical parts, Mark?" Spenza said, grinning.
"The yellow card forces Ahmed to be less physical, but a big man with a target forward mentality like Ahmed's, that's basically making Pharaohs to be a man down. Mentally they just got their best player a yellow and conceived a goal, they won't be able to regroup themselves before the first half ends, and by the second half it will be too late. This match is a complete victory for us, tactically, mentally and physically, we are superior!" Mark declared.
90 minutes later.
The full-time whistle is blown as Super strikers make it three from three and stand on top of the table. Goals from rookies Luvuyo Memela, Mateo Garcia and a penalty for man of the match Charles Quaint'e makes a comprehensive victory for the men in red. Now they head to Strikaland for their first home game of the season.
"Nice game boys, you were great out there. Luvuyo, great goal, Klein, your defence was really solid and Bradley, you looked like you are gonna take my spot a whole lot sooner. " Mark said, as everyone packed their stuff in the locker room.
"What about me captain. I won man of the match, didn't I?" Charles said, Smiling.
"Play like a real footballer then we will talk." Mark said, as everyone walked out whilst three teenagers sat in the Lockeroom.
"Guys, don't tell anyone, but I pissed my pants when Captain called my name." Bradley said...