Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player

Chapter 5: Preparation for Trial

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*USER STATUS

>Physical Fitness : B

>Football Techniques : A-

>Smart Game : A+

>Mental and Mindset: C

>Factor-X : E

>Mastery Skill :1 (1 Msg )

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My football technique once again leveled up in one night. My game intelligence has soared considerably into A+ after studying Andres Iniesta's Vision. My mindset and mental state have also improved considerably to C. I am so happy, in this way I have stepped one step into the path of a professional.

After suppressing my overflowing emotions, I immediately clicked on the Mastery Skill tab to understand how my new skill worked.

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# 1 new message

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CONGRATULATIONS

>You have learned Mastery Skill :

‘Vision Andres Iniesta’

Level 1 : Progress > 15%

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(Check user statistics for more info. )

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NB: Watch and play more games to improve skills

Note: Practice makes it more perfect.

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I hurriedly closed the Mastery Skill tab and opened my game Intelligence stat.

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>Smart Game (Average Rating : A+ )

Spatial Awareness (A+)

Tactical Knowledge (A+)

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“Sial” seruku slowly.

“It's not logical” I can't resist swearing after seeing my game intelligence stat. It has undergone the most substantial changes and is the highest ranked skill according to the system. From B-he jumps to A+ value. I suspect that it is an assessment that is close to the highest rank by the system.

‘One skill mastery can improve one of my skills this much..’ I pondered.

I can't help it, because it's so crazy.

‘What if I manage to learn 5 or 10, or maybe 20 skills.’ Inner me excited.

‘What if I acquire dribbling skills from Ronaldinho, or Cristiano skills?’ I thought with a smile

The change in my game intelligence was beyond my expectations. I understand that high rated game intelligence demonstrates a player's ability to make smart decisions on the field and make them with a fraction of a second fast.

A smart player always has good spatial awareness and is able to see the space clearly throughout the football field and utilize it to his and his team's advantage. That is why many coaches refer to spatial awareness as the sixth sense of a soccer player. A player with a sixth sense will be well aware of where his teammates are and can anticipate where they will be just by looking at the other team's position.

Such skills are not brought from birth but are developed through a lot of experience. This is the same as the tactical knowledge and skills to assess and take risks that also fall under the category of game intelligence.

However, it seems that this mastery system can improve all three skills just by instilling obscure football knowledge and experience in his head. I was so confused and filled with joy.

‘With a system like this, I can be one of the best.’ I thought determinedly.

I now have to work extra hard to level up Andres Iniesta's Vision. It was a skill that might immediately raise his talent above grade B. Even though his talent assessment has not improved from Rank C, I believe I can raise it once again before the trial.

(TIME SKIP )

A month later, at the break of dawn and bright, my father and I rode a motorcycle across the streets of Jakarta, my eyes staring around the streets.I had woken up long before dawn to further prepare for the trials. I was escorted by my father after greeting my mother and my little sister at home and went straight to Central Jakarta. Of course I'm not there to take part in the new school term, but to join this year's youth football trials.

Trials are conducted once every year in July and September.

In the cob test, there are always scouts from local clubs such as Jakarta United, Bali Sport City, Bandung CF, Malang United and Jakarta Sport City as well as other clubs from Indonesia Ultimate League.

I could have chosen to undergo several trials for other football teams in the local team of his hometown, Kembangan City, which might have successfully passed the test. But that means I will miss the opportunity to appear in front of talent scouts from abroad who will definitely come.

My goal is not to join a local football club, but to join a high-performance Sports Academy in Europe.

I understand the importance of attending a good youth training program at an early age if one wants to reach the top of the football industry as a professional. Academies in France, Germany, Spain and others are renowned for nurturing professional players using the most up-to-date technologies and methodologies. Students at the academy will train year-round with a coach who is highly experienced in training and developing amateurs into great professional players.

I need to join an academy like that if I want to have the chance to become a famous player. There I was able to get a world-class education, develop my ball techniques and gain access and connections to professional coaches around the world.

I was worried that if I entered the academy at a local club, my Technical progress would slow down a bit. I know for myself how Indonesian football will be in the future. So I don't want to waste my talent like that if I want to help the Indonesian national team in the future.

In the academy, I don't have to worry about the lack of sporting equipment that happened in my previous life. I am very determined and very motivated to win a scholarship to one of the academies in Europe. The only way I know how to do it in the short term is to follow this Test Trial in Central Jakarta.

So, I decided to skip the first month of school that my parents approved even though they were very reluctant at first. And I chose to take the test today. If I could earn 150,000 pounds a week, like a professional in the EPL, I would be able to study at the best University in the world later on rather than wasting money now.

My father and I were riding on their bikes, going down a bumpy, poorly lit road. I can see occasionally there is a mini bus that seems to go to Central Jakarta as well.

After a long trip we arrived in Central Jakarta. This place is a place that holds a lot of painful memories for me. This is where I started and ended my professional career prematurely in my previous life.

With luggage in hand, my father and I entered the inn for us to stay in during this trial. Because this trial is not just a day. Because it was quite late at night, after eating and

our worship fell asleep due to the exhaustion of this long journey.