Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player

Chapter 38's

Next Day

I run my morning routine, go to the gym and go to school. When the lesson was over, I quickly approached Damon to ask him to practice free kicks together. Despite having DVS I also need to practice my techniques in the real world. That way I will reach where my mental and physical condition will be perfect to improve the skills I have.

“Hey, Damon.” I said as I approached her.

“Hei,Nero-See. What's up.?” He said while cleaning his equipment.

“Will you practice free kicks with me today.?” Ask him.

“Hah, you want to start practicing free kicks.? Don't you want to prepare yourself for next week's game.?” He said while looking at me calmly.

“Y akita can train for 30 minutes before the coach arrives and also we can do it during the break break between the exercises. Can you do it.?” I said expectantly.

“Alright, I'm a goalkeeper anyway. Free kick practice will also benefit me greatly if your kick is on target. Anyway how good is your free-kick.?” He said while nodding and asking me.

“I just started training in this. But I'm sure I can learn it quickly.” I said with confidence.

“Alright I agree to be your training partner for this one week before the game. If this is good for us, maybe we can do this exercise continuously.” Said.

“Good.” I said with a smile.

With that we quickly headed to the academy training ground using our bikes. After fifteen minutes of travel we finally arrived at the academy training ground. We go to the dressing room and put on our training clothes, then prepare for our free kick training.

“You get ready first there. I'll take and install mannequin exercises first.” Damon

“I'll help. I want to start with a free kick from outside the box pinalti.” I said while helping her carry the training doll.

“Oke.” He said while nodding.

We quickly installed the training dolls inside the penalty box close to the edge of the penalty box. We put up five practice dolls. After that Damon walked to take a position under the goal. While I carry the ball and put it ten feet away from the training doll. I took a deep breath and focused before kicking the ball into the goal in the same way as in the previous DVS.

But the first experiment was still a little off the mark. I quickly picked up the second ball and put it back on the ground. I refocused and ran 2 small steps before doing 1 step with Big step to kick the ball. Damon tried to reach the ball curved into the top left corner, but he could not reach it and make the ball into the goal.

“Nice.” I said with a happy smile.

“Hey, nice kick. You sure you're practicing Free Kick for the first time.?” Damon asked as he threw the ball into his net.

“Yes, this is my first time. Maybe it's just lucky anyway. I still need a lot of practice before I become consistent.

Damon smiled hearing that.

“Alright, after all the better your kick, this exercise will be more profitable, so let's do our best and let me show you my ability.” He said as he tightened his goalie gloves and smiled at me.

After that we both trained for a full hour before joining our other teammates for regular practice. Surprisingly, Coach Marce secretly agreed with their free-kick training. He did not call them for a warm-up routine at the start of the day's training session.

I managed to score an average of three out of every ten free-kicks during the session. I could feel my body adapting to the shooting posture required for the skill. I just need to maintain a strict training routine to perfect Lionel Messi's technique.

I dedicate three hours of my daily schedule to free-kick practice over the next six days. I spent an hour training with Damon and two hours in DVS every day.

I didn't relax my physical and tactical training routine despite having to make time for dead ball practice.

A week passed quite quickly, and it was time for the academy review. I had to undergo an annual health test and compete with Anderlecht's senior and junior teams for that year's test. I'm delighted with the prospect of finally dealing with a professional player.

MATCHDAY

The academy players in front of him remained silent, waiting for their coach to continue. Me and my teammates just finished warming up. They were in the dressing room, attending a pre-match tactical briefing for the match against second-team Anderlecht. Their opponents are a combination of under-19 players and Anderlecht team reserves.

"Let me tell you this. You can't lose this match" Coach Marcel continued. "I understand that those people are a few years older than you. They may have more experience than you. But you still have to win. I hate to lose—and you should too. Go out there and play like your life depended on Otherwise, I'll get most of you off the team during the review." He took a few steps closer to the players. "Are we on the same page?" He asked in a serious tone. "Yes, Coach," replied all the players, including me, more or less in unison. Coach Marcel nodded at the players before opening a piece of paper. The current lineup of players is as follows:

3-4-3

Goalkeeper (GK): Damon Svennson

Centre-back (CB): Larsen Maguel

Central Defender (CB): Miguel Alaron

Central Defender (CB): Van Rochefort

Right-back Wing (RWB): Kierst Donovan

Left Back Wing (LWB): Antonio Mitchell

Midfielder (CM): Nero Juniar

Midfielder (CM): Isaac Newton

Right Wing (RM): Ryandi Ferdianur

Left Wing (RM): Andres Kim

Striker (ST): Bjorn Smirkson

I turned to look at Stefan, my Norwegian flatmate, after hearing the names in the squad. Coach Marcel has dropped him from the starting line-up.

The boy's eyebrows—berkerut into wrinkles. He seemed devastated by the coach's decision. I made a mental note to cheer him up later and return his attention to the coach's instructions. "I want to emphasize one point once again. You play against a stronger team. That's for sure. That's why we used a 3-4-3 formation. All of you, except Bjorn, must defend and guard all of their attackers and attacking midfielders when attacked so that they will form a 5-4-1 Formation. Middle defender! You need to maintain a high level of concentration for the whole game. Don't let your guard down a bit. And if there is an opportunity to do a counter attack, do it quickly and efficiently. Understand.?”

“Yes Coach.” Our word in unison.

The coach looked at me and looked at me for a moment. "Nero," he said in a soft tone. "I need a quick transition, from defending to attacking, when you win the ball. You are in midfield—and with your pace, you should be able to give a breakthrough pass to the winger and the attacker for the counter-attack. Right?" "Yes, coach," I replied. I fully understand the strategy the coach wants because the coach has been talking about it in training all week. The coach intends for them to play a purely defensive game and catch the opponent with a counter-attack. "Ryandi and Andres," said Coach Marcel, turning away from me. "You will run a lot during this game. You both have to support Bjorn in attacking, especially you, Andres," the coach stressed, pointing to one of the players. "Please make sure you support Antonio on the left wing every time we defend against their attack. Is that clear?"

"Yes, coach," Andres Kim, an early left winger, replied in earnest.

"good. Let's fight well." Coach Marcel smiled. “Give them the sweatshirt," he ordered, turning towards his assistant who was beside him

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To Be Continued

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