The Tryouts

I was not myself at all and IT FREAKED ME OUT. My mother then came to calm me down and gave me some words of advice. Before I knew it I was in my dad's Land Rover on the way to Teslim Balogun Stadium Complex. I stuck my earbuds into my ear and listened to my playlist of different artistes.

In an hour and half, my parents and I got to the venue of the tryouts. I went to the checkpoint and was directed to the changing room. I was happy I got there on time because I had enough time to warm up before the tryouts started. The coach told us the areas on which midfield players like me would be tested. They were: penalties, free kicks, dribble and score, through pass and others. We each had three chances. The xoach also announced to us that there was only room for twenty of us to go to their football academy in Spain.

During the tryouts, I did really good and I had no doubt that I would get in. Before the announcement of the people who had gotten in I decided to go use for the restroom. On my way to the restroom, I saw the coach collecting bribes from people I was sure won't get in because of rhe level at which they played. Then suddenly, I made eye contact with the coach. He was very surprised to see me there by his facial expression. I did like I didn't see anything and walked away but I knew the coach knew that I understood what was going on at that moment.

Finally, it was time to announce the results and I was very confident that I'll get in. The ciach had read the names of the goalkeepers, defenders and then it was time for him to call out the names of the midfielders. The names he called out were:

Adeniyi Oba

Ekwueme Mickel

Odafen Tabel

Danfodio Musa

John Olaoluwa

Bamise Tobiloba

I was very surprised that my name wasn't called and it was visible by other people's facial expressions that they were shocked I didn't get picked. I was mad and furious and I stormed into the coach's office. On getting there I overhead him joking of how he got rid of me so as not for me to ruon his plans. I was very angry, sad and enraged at that moment and I broke down in tears