A busy schedule [1]
{NTA News Story!}
{BREAKING NEWS!}
{The national association of Nigerian football received an additional slot in the CAF Champions League and in an inexplicable decision based on past merits, the additional slot to play in the CAF Champions League has been handed to Enyimba FC in an act of great generosity!}
{The CAF Champions league schedule has already been adjusted to account for the participation of an entirely new club in the competition this year.}
{According to the national association President, giving a strong team like Enyimba FC the chance to shine in the CAF Champions League again will bolster the popularity and image of the Nigerian football league to the world.]
Sam woke up the next morning to this blockbuster news.
He was shocked. 'What the heck!'
In the 2021/2022 football season, Enyimba FC had a bad season, ending the season with 0 trophies while finishing 7th in the league.
This was the reason why for the 2022/2023 football season, they were only eligible to compete in the league and in the FA Cup. Sam did not expect the situation of his club to change overnight. Unexpectedly, nobody foreshadowed it.
Austin woke up that morning, ecstatic after being the first to learn the news. He was the one who woke Sam up and broke the news to him.
After reading it, instead of joining in the ecstasy, Sam felt goosebumps all over his body. 'Don't tell me…!'
'Holy sikes…!'
He had a recollection to yesterday when he went through the series of notifications that his system barraged him with after his incredible performance yesterday. He remembered when the system screen went off, apparently, the system was recalibrating.
'Was that when it happened?'
His eyes widened. 'Is this even realistically possible?'
'Damn! Does the system even have the ability to bend reality to its will?!'
'Holy freaks…, that's messed up!'
'Is that why the fonts of the system suddenly looked so dull after? Did it expend a lot of energy to do it?'
'Oh my f*cking Jesus! What is the limit to the capabilities of the system?'
'Does it have endless, infinite possibilities?'
Sam was so shocked that he could barely speak.
"Hey". Sam waved at his face. "Hey, are you ok?"
Sam looked at his captain and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm good, I was just overwhelmed by the shock of the situation".
"I understand". Austin grinned. "I felt the same way".
Well, it was only a momentary shock, the blockbuster news didn't affect the 2 footballers' schedule as getting set, they soon left to complete their daily jogging and training for the morning.
After exerting himself for almost an hour, Sam managed to complete his daily system quest in time to get prepared and join his teammates at the airport.
Together, at the airport, they finally left Jos, Plateau State.
And well, yesterday's game officially pushed Sam into the fore of Enyimba FC's plans, dragging him into the busy schedule that came with it.
After his performance against Plateau United, he solidified his position as one of the guaranteed starting XI players of Enyimba FC. He was now the nailed-in starting attacking midfielder of Enyimba FC.
It would take a lot for Cyril Olisema to force his way back into the starting XI.
The next day, like usual, Coach Yemi Daniel sent his players the next match day fixtures including the results for the match day 3 fixtures.
(Matchday 3 results)
>Nasarawa United 0-3 Akwa United<
>Date: 22 Jan, 2023<
…
>Enugu Rangers 1-1 Sunshine Stars<
>Date: 22 Jan, 2023<
…
>Abia Warriors 0-1 Lobi Stars<
>Date: 22 Jan, 2023<
…
>Bayelsa United 2-1 Wikki Tourist<
>Date: 22 Jan, 2023<
…
>Doma United 1-0 Dakkada<
>Date: 22 Jan, 2023<
…
>Plateau United 3-4 Enyimba<
>Date: 22 Jan, 2023<
…
>Kwara United 0-1 Bendel Insurance<
>Date: 22 Jan, 2023<
…
>El Kanemi Warriors FC 0-0 Gombe United<
>Date: 22 Jan, 2023<
…
>Rivers United 2-1 Niger Tornadoes<
>Date: 24 Jan, 2023<
…
>Remo Stars 2-0 Shooting Stars<
>Date: 25 Jan, 2023<
…
(Matchday 4:)
>Dakkada – Rivers United<
>Date: 28 Jan, 2023<
…
>Bendel Insurance – Remo Stars<
>Date: 28 Jan, 2023<
…
>Enyimba – Kwara United<
>Date: 29 Jan, 2023<
…
>Akwa United – Plateau United<
>Date: 29 Jan, 2023<
…
>Lobi Stars – Bayelsa United<
>Date: 29 Jan, 2023<
…
>Sunshine Stars – Abia Warriors<
>Date: 29 Jan, 2023<
…
>Niger Tornadoes – Enugu Rangers<
>Date: 29 Jan, 2023<
…
>Wikki Tourist – Doma United<
>Date: 29 Jan, 2023<
…
>Gombe United – Nasarawa United<
>Date: 29 Jan, 2023<
…
>Shooting Stars – El Kanemi Warriors FC<
>Date: 29 Jan, 2023<
…
(CAF Champions League!)
(First preliminary round. Leg 1 of 2)
>Enyimba Fc – Zamalek<
>Date: 31 Jan, 2023<
With the sudden slot that was allocated to Enyimba FC in the CAF Champions League by the national association, though the club celebrated it, in essence, it also meant that their schedule just became a whole lot more packed up.
And as a starting 11 player of Enyimba FC, Sam became busy with it.
For the next few days, he became so busy that he barely had time to communicate with his parents though he still created time for it.
Due to the presence of his fiery mom, it was mandatory that he called. Sam already set a daily reminder alarm on his android phone.
After consecutive training sessions across days, Enyimba FC finally welcomed the traveling Kwara United at home.
In the Enyimba International Stadium, in front of their home fans, Enyimba FC put out another scintillating display as they blew their opponents away completely by the end of 90 minutes, ending the game with a score line of 3-0.
Against the highline of their opponents, Emeka was in form as he scored a brace in the game, the first in the 11th minute, and then in the 68th minute of the game, Austin assisted both goals.
Sam also managed to chip in with a goal contribution, assisting the second goal of the game and increasing his season tally to 4 goals and 3 assists in just 4 games, an incredible tally of 7 goal contributions.
In just 2 days, Enyimba FC played again and this time, they welcomed Zamalek, the Egypt-based club to the Enyimba International Stadium to kick-off their CAF Champions league campaign.
In this game, despite the little window of rest in-between, Sam played again and without a doubt, it was the hardest game of his budding career.
Zamalek SC proved a difficult challenge for Enyimba FC despite the fact that they were playing away from home as they played scintillating football.
After a tight scoreless game throughout 90 minutes, in the 90th plus 2 minute, Enyimba FC finally broke the deadlock through a Zamalek mistake.
It was an own goal from their goalkeeper that pulled the game in Enyimba's favor. The game ended 1-0.
Enyimba FC started their CAF Champions league campaign with a victory though it was a close one.