Chances

Kinshasa stadium: Stands

Throughout the entire match Shakes and his family had been in the stands, watching the game along with Skarra's younger son, Jack. Nandi, shake's daughter was not there but Jomo was.

During half time, a visibly tired, huffing Skarra joined them.

"You are late." Said Shakes, smirking as he gave Skarra a beer.

"Better late than never, right". Said Skarra gulping down the bottle in one go.

"Slow down, man. You gonna get drunk before the match starts again." Shakes warned.

"Has he played yet? Do you think he is gonna play?"

"I'm not sure, the situation is tense right now, fans are leaving the stadium and the teams seems to be in shambles. After Spenza disagreed with Orlando, Andile is the only attacker they have." Shakes responded.

"But he'll be happy you are here, whether he plays or not." Jomo added.

"Here they come and the second half is about to begin and it seems Andile is in the team." Shakes said.

Commentator: And the second half begins, a visibly distraught Supa Strikas return to the field without their star striker as he has been replaced with 18-year-old debutant, Andile Manzuel wearing the Number 44 shirt. And we begin kick-off...

Andile began the second half seemingly overwhelmed, making a couple good passes here and there. But not really impacting the game. The loud cheers and boos from the crowd crippled him, he froze for a few seconds, unable to, thinking about the dozens of matches he had played before but none were bigger than this one. He felt the weight of the name written on his back "Skarra" pull him down with immense force, his heart began to beat faster and faster as everything began to move slower. He looked around, his team running around chasing the ball. He could not help in anyway, so he looked towards the bench, intending to ask Coach Spenza for a substitution, Spenza simply smiled and pointed to somewhere in the stands.

Andile looked where Spenza had pointed and saw his father, and everyone else watching him. Skarra just did a thumbs up and smiled as Andile smiled back. Then everything became normal again as the ball somehow landed on his feet. One of the United players quickly ran in to tackle him but Andile just moved the ball around his feet, brushing off the player and running with the ball down the right flank, as multiple people attempted to mark him, Andile simple dribbled past them, as if they were just objects. He quickly crossed the ball into the opposition goal before one of his teammates made a huge jump to header the ball into the net as the entire stadium filled with cheers. His teammates all ran to him to celebrate.

"Nice one bro, that was a great cross." Said the goal scorer brushing Andile on his head.

"Let's get one more before we celebrate, we need one more." Andile said as he quickly fetched the ball from the opposition net and running to the centre of the field and waiting for united to kick-off.

The match restarted and was very different from the first half. Supa Strikas was more on the attack and United had been constrained in their own half of the field. A strong Supa Strikas attack attempted to get the winning goal whilst a determined United attack tried to defend so they could walk away with the point, they needed to get into the playoffs. This back and forth went on for the rest of the second half with no side looking to give up. Soon it was the 90th minute, with both sides square Super Strikas needed to go for a win. By sheer luck they had just won a corner and Spenza signalled everyone to go up front and go for the win, including the goalkeeper. As the bodies piled up to anticipate the corner Andile moved just outside the opposition box, aiming to prevent a counter attack if the united defenders managed to get the ball out of the box.

The corner was taken quick by Super Strikers, the taker quickly crossed the ball into the opposition box as everyone jumped sky high trying to head the ball. But everyone missed as the opposition goalkeeper punched the ball away, saving United from danger but the ball landed on a Supa Strikas player's feet, someone nobody had noticed whilst preparing for the corner. Andile stood there at his feet as everyone froze, realizing what was about to happen. Andile struck the ball with huge force, propelling the ball into the top right corner of the opposition net. "Goooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaalllllllllll" The commentators screamed as the ball shot into the top corner, with Andile running to the stands where Skarra and Shakes stood, before celebrating Infront of them in ecstasy as the entire stadium cheered. The referee the blew the whistle three times to end the match as Sup Strikas walked away with all three points to secure safety from relegation, red and yellow flags flew in the sky as Supa Strikas celebrated the win. Coach Spenza simply sat down and took a huge sigh of relief.

Barcelona, Spain.

Barka Training camp.

Barka, a Super league club are training at their training grounds as the normal super league season has ended, with the players leisurely passing the ball around with not much intensity in the camp. Their coaches stood on the touchlines watching.

"Garcia is going to be an issue coach, we need to offload him, he ain't good enough for the Super league man," one of the men said, in a Spanish accent.

"He's just a boy Gonzalez, he is still growing, give him a chance." replied the other older coach as the both looked at a guy with purple hair playing with the ball.

"Look, we have been giving him chance after chance, but the board don't want him at the club. It's that simple he ain't good enough." Gonzalez stated

"You forget that he has taken you guys to the Super league final on his own, you ought to be grateful to that kid." The other coach argued back.

"That was four seasons ago, he is 22 now, and has been our main striker for all four of those and has not gone over 10 goals, since that season, no other super league striker has a lower tally. Look coach, I understand you got a soft spot for the kid cos he seems like the next Riano or El matador but he ain't it old man. Just because I feel for you, I managed to convince the board to loan him to a continental league side, no second division club wants him. His wages can be put towards a new striker, just tell him the news, I'll prepare the documents if any club wants him." Gonzalez said, as he walked away from the field as the Coach signalled Garcia to come to him.

Mateo Garcia is a tall, slim Spanish striker with an imposing build. His long, purple hair is bundled into a ponytail and his well, built body is there for all to admire. He quickly ran to the coach, seeing the matter as urgent.

"Yah Coach." Mateo said, walking up to the coach who was visibly older than him but significantly shorter.

"Look man, the board is forcing my hand here kid, but they are loaning you out. To a continental league no less so better start learning a new language kid."

Mateo immediately froze, his eyes widened and his heart beat faster and faster. He had been part of Barka since he was seven, never played anywhere else, he had not even imagined it but now he had to move somewhere else.

"What do you mean Coach señor, this is my home. I can't leave." Mateo said, in a deranged manner.

"Just accept it kid, and it's just a loan, you be back the following season anyway, so take this as a training holiday. Bully some continental league players and come back to earn your place here, no issue there, right?" The coach said, also walking away.

Mateo dropped to his knees with his face staring down the grass as it began raining, his hair also got untied as it covered his entire face now. "Right, just training. Hehehe." He said, with tears in his eyes.

Kingston, Jamaica

Zuko walks into the house, with two plastic bags, wearing a simple, sweaty vest and cargo pants, he puts the plastics on the table, and walks around the house.

"Mom, dad, I'm back" he said, as he continued to walk into the dining room.

He paused at the doorway as he saw his parents, sitting on the sofas talking with two men in grey suits wearing white shirts and red ties. Both men had blonde hair, both were Caucasian, and in their mid-40's. One of the men had his hair tied in a bun, with green eyes and a goofy grin covered by the badly groomed goatee. He was Supa Strikas legend Klaus. The other was cleaner, bolder and had an all-round firmer presence. He had well-tanned skin, blue eyes and a cleaner goatee. His muscular body did not justify his age, this man was a tank, this was North Shaw.

Zuko immediately recognized them with ease, they had visited the house a lot whilst he was a kid, not to mention how many times he had watched their YouTube videos whenever he was training. The duo immediately looked at his as he came in, both smiling, with North doing it in a calm cool way, whilst Klaus looked like a 40-year-0ld predator who had just seen his prey, drooling and the lot.

"Looks like we didn't have to wait long Rasta, your son looks the part." North Shaw said.

"What's up? Is there an issue?" Zuko said, standing in front of everyone with a presence.

"Zuko, some respect would be nice. Now sit down and here what these men are here to say." Rasta immediately warned his son, who simply sat down on an empty chair.

"No need Rasta, he has the same command as his father I see. He is lively to say the least." North Shaw said, still relaxed and clam.

"Yeah, I nearly choked on these cookies when I saw him, reminds me of every time you caught me eating strudel Rasta." Klaus said, in a German accent whilst stuffing his face with cookies.

Rasta just laughed a little and smiled, "Da good old days boys, da good old days mahn."

"Yeah, so what's up? I've got practice in an hour so I need to shower. Make it quick." Zuko said, as he looked irritated to say the least.

"Look kid, we know things have not worked out at Technicali, and we also heard they are considering letting you go. You ain't got a second option if that happens." North Shaw said, handing Zuko an envelope with the Supa Strikas logo on it.

"What is this?" Zuko asked, seemingly puzzled.

"We talked to Technicali and they agreed to sell you to us, at market value of course now it just depends on you."

"A drop down two divisions ain't what I'm looking for though." Zuko said, seemingly confident.

"Look, the continental leagues are big, most of us came from them, and became huge stars. Don't take this as a drop from the top kiddo. This is the only second chance you got. So, what's your choice, Rasta Junior." North Shaw said, smiling at Zuko.