Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player

Chapter 39's

I and my teammates came out of the dressing room after we all wore our black jerseys. On the way out of the dressing room, I approached Stefan and asked: "Are you okay?"

"Why don't I?" The Norwegian gave him a smile. "I'm sure I'm fine” he continued

I pat Stefan on the shoulder as we walked through the tunnel. "That's great. I think you're depressed about the game. Stay positive. You'll get a chance to play." I said comfort my friend.

Stefan's smile faded, and he lowered his voice, his expression solemn. "I suggest you take this game more seriously."

"Of course, I'll do it" I replied, also in a whisper. "I always take every game seriously."

"You don't understand." Stefan scowled at me. "There is talk of making Coach Marcel the permanent coach of the Anderlecht II team."

"Hasn't he been confirmed as the head of the RSCA Youth Academy, not Anderlecht U-19?"

"Yes." Yeah." Stefan nodded. "But it's all ancient history. Anderlecht's Board of Directors wanted to appoint him as coach of the second team. This match might be a test for him by club officials. That means if we lose, he will probably cut off most of his players from the academy team. I'm sure you won't be affected because of your amazing talent." He smiled sadly. "However, we'll all be in big trouble."

I frowned. "Are the other players aware of this?"

"No. I just heard this from my agency." Stefan took a breath. "They warned me to do my best today because of that."

"I'll do my best." I smile. "Let's hope luck is on our side today. Considering our team, we have a real chance of winning. We just need to find a way to score."

I have realized that RSCA Youth Acadmey has a relatively strong U-18 team over the past year. The defense is almost on par with the Anderlecht U-19. The only challenge we face is the lack of strikers. The only attackers in our team are Bjorn Smirkson and Stefan Svennson. Therefore coach Marcel used to use a 3-4-3,3-4-2-1 or 5-4-1 formation to cover the shortfall.

"Just do your best, Ner," Stefan pleaded as we walked out of the tunnel towards the field. "The continuation of our happy life in the academy depends on this game. It's even more important than against Anderlecht's senior team." He patted my shoulder and rushed towards the technical area.

I sighed as I glanced back at my flats friend who left. I even forgot that I was in the annual review—testing the performance of the players. If their performances do not meet the required standards during the review week, the academy will release them and politely advise them to try their talents elsewhere. Of course I'm not worried because I was already convinced of my position at Anderlecht when I was 18. As long as I'm not involved in a terrible scandal or accident, the academy won't release or expel me. Mr. Thorgan convinced me about that.

"Nero," A heavy voice rang out from behind me while I was still in contemplation.I turned only to find Isaac Newton, the other central midfielder selected for the game that day, standing behind him. The number six is very tall, the clear head is higher than most people who are considered tall by me.

"What's that?" I asked him. I've never been close to the midfielder since they went to different schools.

“I will cover the entire defensive midfield,” Isaac said with a smile. "Just concentrate on attacking. We have to win this game."

I'm nodding. "I'm sure we should be able to win. But watch out for Leander's operand. Otherwise, we won't have a chance to come out victorious."

"That's true" Isaac agreed. "We can't win this game unless we deal with Leander's passes. But they also have to deal with you if they want to win this game. Just look around and see how the Anderlecht players are stealing glances at you." He grinned, pointing towards the other half of the field.

I turned around and noticed that his old acquaintances, with their dark Blue and White Anderlecht jerseys, were staring intently at me with a burning desire to compete. Players like Mehdi, Leander, Jordan, Nathan, Sandy, Samy, and a few other players I didn't recognize were already standing in their positions. They had structured themselves into a 3-5-2 formation, showing their intention to play an attacking game against the RSCA Youth Academy.

This is the line-up of both teams

The RSCA Youth Academy

Coach: Marcel

3-4-3

Goalkeeper (GK): Damon Svennson (1)

Central Defender (CB): Larsen Maguel (4)

Central Defender (CB): Miguel Alaron (5)

Central Defender (CB): Van Rochefort (6)

Right Midfielder (RCM): Kierst Donovan (2)

Left Midfielder (LCM): Antonio Mitchell (3)

Midfielder (CM): Nero Juniar (10)

Midfielder (CM): Isaac Newton (8)

Right Wing (RM): Ryandi Ferdianur (7)

Left Wing (RM): Andres Kim (11)

Anderlecht II Team

Coach: Verdict Andresson

3-5-2

GK: Davy Roef (1)

CB: Johnathan Vervoort, (2)

CB: Herve Matthys (5)

CB: Arnaud de Greef (4)

RWB: Sandy Walsh (18)

LWB: Jordan Lukaku (3)

CDM: Alexandre De Bruyn (6)

CM: Leander Dendoncker (8)

CM: Samy Bourard (10)

CF: Nathan Kabasele (7)

ST: Mehdi Tarfi (11)

I saw the players from Anderlecht II Team. And I saw no Romelu Lukaku there. It seemed like either he had already promoted to the Senior team or the Anderlecht First team or he had gone to another club. I'm sure it's the first one, because it would be a waste to sell or let a potential Striker like Lukaku just walk away.

*Priiiietttttt!*

The referee blew his whistle, gesturing for all players to take their positions. The match between Anderlecht II and the RSCA Youth Academy has finally begun.

My mood lifted. It's been a whole year since I last took part in a serious football match. I really wanted to test my skills against the second team Anderlecht.

"It finally begins" Isaac grinned. "Let's play nice," He clenched a fist with me before running back to his position.

Finally the match began, the ball was first kicked by the team Anderlecht II. The game was played by The Purple and White Kids. They played the Barcelona-style Tiki-Taka possession with Leander Dendoncker, Alexandre De Bruyn and Samy Bourard as their attacking brains in the middle. Our team was a little bit overwhelmed by their players' ability to keep the ball and pass the ball quickly. We are only able to survive and wait for the mistakes made by their players to do Counter Attack.

But there was one thing I noticed, they were like watching me, they were playing around me instead of passing me in midfield. They so often choose to pass the ball rather than dribble and face me and my teammates. But even so I don't think about it much. During these initial 15 minutes we stayed in the face of the onslaught of the Anderlecht II Team.

In the 17th minute it seems that Anderlecht II Team got a good chance. Leander quickly played short passes with Samy and Nathan, they quickly and precisely made short passes that made it difficult for our defenders. The three of them formed a triangle that easily passed some of our players, before Leander finally made a breakthrough pass to Mehdi Tarfi. Our defender was unable to dispel the pass resulting in Mehdi One on One with Damon, but before he had time to control the ball he received, I quickly swept the ball out of the box resulting in them getting a corner kick.

Fortunately I was quick to react to their quick game, because otherwise the chances were 90% likely to be goals. Damon came up to me and patted me on the back saying.

“Good work.” He said with a smile, I just nodded before refocusing. I saw Sandy was gonna take that corner kick. But I heard a voice behind me.

“Looks like you've been getting faster and better over the past year.” Said that voice. I looked back and saw Mehdi speaking to me.

“Ah not it's just luck.” I said, of course it was a lie. Of course I will not tell my opponents that I am able to predict their offensive tactics. My high game intelligence is powered by Visual IniestaI have helped me analyze patterns in their games.

Mehdi furrowed his brows as he continued to look at me, before saying.

“Of course want it luck or not, it won't mean anything in today's game, you will lose no matter how good you play. How many times have you been able to defend against our attacks.? Wait and see.” He said with a smile before leaving. Of course I ignored him, I knew he was trying to overload my mind. Such tactics are common in football.

I went over to one of our defenders Larsen Maguel, who had just returned to the box. "Don't let their strikers run behind you. Isn't that what the coach said? What are you doing on defense?"

"They are too quick with their transition" said the centre-back, smiling shyly. "But it won't happen again. I can promise you that." He hit his chest.

"Okay.” I said while nodding. "But keep the right back line throughout the game. You should order other defenders to move up and down the field simultaneously in all defensive situations. Only then can we set up a good offside trap and prevent their quick attack from threatening our box." I recommend to the player the number 4.

I have noticed that Mehdi would be in an offside position if Van Rochefort, our left centre-back, did not back down and so put Mehdi in an onside position. I don't expect that kind of starter error from the defenders in the professional academy, although I do, because even the experience defenders will make a few mistakes.

"Don't worry" Larsen assured. "We will do our best for the rest of the game. Let's survive the corner kick first." I nodded and concentrated on surviving this corner kick.