Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player

Chapter 15: A Perfect Comeback

Coach Rian blew the whistle and restarted the match.

For the next five minutes, our team dominated the game. The return of Raihan and me to the field has increased the strength of our team. We can both defend, intercept and pass to the striker every few minutes. We dominated the midfield.

Arya tried to take care of me but she failed. He is an agile type of player, used to running and dribbling past defenders. He can't match me during a physical confrontation in midfield because of my taller, muscular body. So he went back to his original position, after he saw he failed to keep me a few minutes he tried.

On the other hand, I kept seeing shadows flashed across the field once in a while. Some come from the ball and others from the player. I have confirmed that it is a manifestation of some sort of predictive ability given by Vision Iniesta. They increased my visual awareness every time I would pass or intercept the ball during a game. They've helped me track the trajectory of the ball when I scored.

But not all of those predictions are correct. I found out after passing the bait into the penalty box to Ryandi. But it turned out that he instead ran towards a different direction and followed the route taken by one of the other shadows. It seems like this is proof that I should always take into account the positions of my opponents and teammates.

In the twentieth minute of the second half, the blue team again managed to find their rhythm once again. Hilmy the winger sent an accurate cross into our team's penalty box. Arya deftly received the ball well and controlled it slightly before firing into the bottom right corner of the net. But Najmi deftly did a brilliant save. Coach Rian blew his whistle and gave the team a blue corner.

Arya and his team-mates have a chance to widen their lead. All members of our team, including both strikers rushed back to the box to defend.Bek blue team also came to our penalty box to welcome a corner kick.

I observed their Actions before calling Ryandi. I whispered some instructions to his ear before telling him to go back to the edge of the penalty box.

Hilmy had already kicked the ball, but our goalkeeper Najmi managed to punch the ball. And the ball quickly headed to where I had been waiting.

I managed to predict where the ball would end up and move into that position first. I controlled the ball with my feet before turning around and sprinting towards the blue team defense quickly. Galih came to intercept with his sliding tackle, but I got past him and passed the ball to Ryandi who ran in tune with me in the middle of the field. Our counterattack is ongoing. Fiqih uses his best speed to chase Ryandi and pull his shirt, intending to do professional soul and stop the counter-attack, but Ryandi does not falter, but he does not falter, he kept running until he passed back to me who was close to the halfway line. There is no player between me and the goalkeeper. All the opposing defenders are still behind.

Coach Rian gives a play-on even after Fiqih pulls Ryandi to the ground.

I did a solo run from the middle of the field to the opposing penalty box. When I got close to the penalty box, I just kicked the ball into the lower right corner of the goal where the opposing goalkeeper failed to stop the kick which made the score turn into 3-3.

With eight minutes left, we managed to make the score a 3-3 draw. It was a breath of fresh air for our team.

****

“You're right grandpa.” Sage said

Nero is everywhere now. His ability to control the course of the game and his passing is very accurate. Every scout would want a playmaker like him.” Sage continued sadly. He sighed while continuing to watch the match.

But his grandfather remained silent with his eyes fixed on the field.

“Grandpa?” Sage hummed, patting the old man on the shoulder with his slender fingers.

　

　

“I heard you, Sage.” Answer the old man. He turned to face his grandson.

“We have to get it by all means.” Said loudly.

“I'll talk to the coach who is my friend. Don't worry.” Continue the grandfather.

“Why in the file you have said that he is a slow-moving player who is good at doing the dirty work of the team.?” Ask Sage, frowning. He opened the file player for the umpteenth time today.

“You asked me! To whom should I ask?” Grandpa said while shrugging his shoulders.

****

The match resumed after coach Rian blew his whistle.

Me and my team-mates kept pressing the opponent, the midfielders of the opposing team like Galih and Rian had no choice but to pass the ball back to back.

The rain started to rain down on the field. Most scouts return to the stands to shelter from the rain. Yet some remained on the field seriously watching the match regardless of the raindrops raining down on them.

While on the sidelines coach Andreas spoke to Mr. Pierre Alan, head scout of the FC Nantes Youth Academy and Mr. Fernando Saverino head scout of the Deportivo La Coruna Academy. They are both responsible for deciding the results of the youth trials in Jakarta. They were both the ones who benefited the most to bring in the most potential candidates in this trial.

“That Aryan boy is very good.” Fernando

“True, as you said coach Andreas, dribbling ability and perfect finishing.” Pierre said

“Choches named Fiqih and Hilmy are also quite good from the blue team.” Pierre.

They observed Hilmy carrying the ball, but he was blocked by Yunan right-back red team. He passed through Yunan quite easily, then he gave a pass to the left to Fiqh who were already in front to help the attack. Fiqih controlled the ball with his feet and then he gave a crossing to the middle of the red team's penalty box. Arya prepares to welcome the crossing, Faishal tries to duel the air with Arya. But Arya jumped higher and managed to head the ball into the goal but was caught by Najmi. It seems like only the 3 of them are still playing with spirit in the blue team.

“What about Nero Juniar and Ryandi Ferdianur? Nero is a boy with the number 8 red team.” Coach Andreas said.

“They were pretty good, but seeing the explosion in the first half, and I've gathered information about the boy, I know he had an injury to the ligament of his right foot. I was quite hesitant to recruit him by considering both issues.” Answer Pierre

“True, although I admit that he is a skilled playmaker, but we already have a lot of boys like that in our academy. And his impressive physique in this match is due to his older age. What do you think will happen when the others mature into stronger players.?” Fernando.

“I prefer Arya, Fiqih and Faishal from that green Team.” Pierre.

“Can you consider again.? He is a very talented player, his vision of playing is very good and coupled with his impressive physique, he can be formed into a good central defender or midfielder in the future Persuade coach Andreas.

“Do you doubt my vision coach.? Do you think we would be here if not for the sponsorship from Deportivo Indonesia?” said Pierre.

“We promise to choose four players each from the trial. Be satisfied with that. We're not interested in Nero's boy.” Pierre said with a cynical grin on his face

Coach Andreas chose silence this time. He was a little angry with both of them. He can see the fact on the field that Nero is very fit and does not look injured in the slightest. But he gave up trying to convince the French and Spanish scout. He left them while thinking about how to help the child.

****

Meanwhile on the pitch I was not aware of the discussion between the coach and the scouts. Now the only thing I have in mind is to win the game.

The score is still a 3-3 draw and now there is only about 3 minutes left.

Now both Galih and Rian are working together to close my bankroll and stop me from giving good passes to my Striker or team winger. I scanned the field to find any gaps that I could exploit. The ball is still controlled by the red team. Faishal passes the ball to Gabriel. I gestured for Ryandi and both of my team's strikers to go forward attacking. Gabriel's still holding the ball, he's passing it to Raihan. I immediately ran forward before quickly turning back to get out of the pressure of the two of them and asked Raihan for the ball. Raihan lured to me, I turned around and started running attacking to the opponent's defense.

Galih and Rian tried to stop me, but I easily passed the two of them, now that I was in an unguarded position, I looked to the left and looked towards Toni, I signaled that I would feed to her, but instead of passing to him I instead pass to Ryandi who is not awake, after releasing a pass to Ryandi I immediately run towards the box penalty opponent.

Ryandi easily controlled the ball with his feet, he immediately ran forward. The blue left-back Syahdan tried to stop him, but Ryandi easily passed him, quickly crossing into the box. Karvin headed the ball towards the goal. But successfully countered by the goalkeeper of the blue team, the ball bounced forward and right towards me. I controlled the ball with my chest, and tried to kick the ball towards the goal. Galuh tried to close my movement, but I did a little wiggle to the left tricked him and violently kicked the ball into the top left corner of the goal that was difficult to reach the goalkeeper

*BAMM*

The ball hits the back of the goal jarring hard without being unstoppable. I quickly celebrated the goal with my teammates. We are leading with a score of 4-3.

“Sial” muttered Arya saw the score now being reversed.

With the match immediately resumed, with time remaining, Arya and his team attacked like there was no tomorrow. But we with a new spirit managed to withstand the onslaught from them until the final whistle which was closed with a resounding save from Najmi.

*PRIT PRIT PRITT*

Final score 4-3

Ryandi immediately ran towards Nero.Najmi and the other teammates also came and celebrated their victory together. Even Raihan did a tos with Nero for the first time in their history.

This is supposed to be football. A game that is supposed to build unity among teammates rather than hatred for each other.

“Other times I won't lose.” Suddenly a voice came from behind us.

I turned around and saw Arya standing behind me with a friendly smile.

“Are you sure.?” I said with a joking smile.

“Of course.”

“Heh well I'll wait.”

Then we shook hands to show respect to each other. However, in the future we will likely become one team in the Indonesian national team.

****

Coach Andreas meanwhile rushed away from the sidelines to head for the dressing room right after the final whistle sounded. He felt a deep sense of sadness after seeing Nero score his third.

All his efforts to convince Mr. Pierre and Mr. Fernando to give Nero a chance were in vain. A talented player who was ignored by the scouts because of two problems that could actually be fixed.

He had to look for other opportunities for the boy before the usual mistakes happened in Indonesia. Diab could see Nero could become Garuda's pillar for international competition in the next few years.

“Excuse me coach Andreas, can we talk a minute or two.” Andreas heard a very familiar hoarse yet soft voice from behind him. He turned around only to find an old caucasian man accompanied by a young blonde girl standing behind him.

“Ahahaha.” Coach Andreas laughed after seeing the Belgian.

“Mr.Thorgan Royce nice to see you again.” He said he reached out to shake hands.

“I'll come to look for you. I really need your help this time.”Said.

“Oh same here.” Said Mr. Thorgan while shaking the hand of coach Andreas outstretched.

“Can we talk dikantormu.” Said Mr. Thorgan