Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player
Chapter 6: Young Players of the Future
19 July 2010 : Central Jakarta – Indonesia
The first rays of the sun peered over the skyline in a golden form that shone beautifully. Brilliant gold and orange colors flow like wildfire in the east over the city of Jakarta.
Seen sunlight shining on the window of the inn room occupied by me. I was doing a little exercise like sit ups and push ups. And now I'm in my room alone, because my father left for home this morning. He couldn't keep me company until the end because there he still had to work to support us. But it's okay for me. One day he didn't have to work so hard anymore, when I was a professional.
I finished my training and looked out the window.
“Beautiful morning” mumbled me slowly.
After a few minutes of gazing at the morning beauty in the capital, I immediately rushed to take a bath in preparation for the day to come.
A little while later, I had breakfast with the food that the inn had prepared, then immediately headed to the city center after giving the keys to the receptionist. Of course I left my luggage in the room, because I had rented for an entire week. Besides, I don't have to worry about thieves, because the inn is quite safe.
After leaving the inn I headed towards the city center first joining the crowd that was heading towards the city center. I want to buy some of the sports equipment I want.
Of course even though it was still this morning, the capital was already flooded with a sea of people moving in different directions. The upper class drive in their luxury cars or walk around carrying their expensive bags and wearing their latest brand of clothing. As for the people of the lower classes sitting on the cold floor scattered asking for money. On every street corner, the buskers sing the top popular songs in Indonesia. Some sing with amazing talent, while some sing in a mediocre voice. Even so they still try to sing for money so that they and or their families can meet the needs of their stomachs. New and old cars, motorcycles carrying two to four passengers and bicyclists everywhere, clustered together like locusts.
I ignored all of that until I met the two figures that were in front of me. A little boy and girl singing tried to attract a crowd of walking people. They sing with gusto, despite the fact that these people just ignore them. I who basically could not bear to the children immediately gave five thousand rupiah for them to buy rice to meet the needs of their stomachs both.
“This sisters. Use this money to buy breakfast.” I said with a sad smile as I rubbed my right hand against their heads one by one.
“Thank you brother.” Say them both with a smile.
I just nodded and walked back, I couldn't do anything more for them, could only give them a little money so that they could at least buy breakfast this morning. I quickly walked through the different used shops buying sports gear that I did not already have. I did not want to risk being sent off by the coach for not preparing everything well.After shopping, I returned to the inn to rest and prepare for the Youth Trial which will be carried out the next day. I want to make sure that I can get enough rest and not get tired. I knew that the break was very important for football players to perform one hundred percent on the pitch.
After returning to my room, I went back to my Hatha – Yoga light routine before I opened the system interface to check my current progress. I'm especially worried about the statistics of my football technique that coaches and scouts will be scrutinizing during the trials.
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User Status
>Football Engineering (Average rating A-)
Ball Control: A+
Dribbling Skills: B
Passing Accuracy: A-
Body Control: B
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Strong legs: (Left and Right )
****
After gaining Andres Iniesta's Vision and training with my father and his friends at Kembangan, my football technique has stabilized at Rank A-. I have tried to improve further by utilizing every means I might use, yet remain unchanged in the slightest.
The system hasn't offered me any more rewards for a whole month, even if I don't complete my assigned daily training schedule. Thus, I was in a stalemate for a while.
“Whatever happens, I will not fail tomorrow.” I said with great determination.
I'm still very confident that my passing, ball control and game awareness will help me get through this test.
(Time Skip )
By the time I arrived at the JSC, there were already over a hundred rookie footballers waiting to take part in this year's youth football trials. Some sat on pavilion chairs and others on the running track. They've been wearing their gear.
I noticed some players who are quite famous among them who will then become some of the pedestal of Indonesia in the competition – competition he participated in. Sitting in the front row of the pavilion is young Raihan Fatah who will later play for Jakarta Sports City, JDT, and Jubilo Iwata. I don't have a good feeling for him because he used to bully him when he signed for Jakarta Sports City before being out of contract in a few months of my previous life.
There are also other famous names such as M.Hilmy, Ahmad Faishal, and Fiqh Firdaus who sit on the running track.
But I ignored the rest and focused on the one player who benefited the most from this trial in his previous life.
Leaning against the pavilion wall is a boy who will shock the world of Indonesian football some twelve years later. He is Arya Bathara, a player who joined a high-performing football academy right after a test run at the age of fourteen. By 2022, he was already well known as the Ronaldonya of Indonesia as he scored many goals and became one of the best Asian talents of the era.
Even he surprisingly brought Indonesia to be the runner-up of the Asian Cup and for the first time brought Indonesia to the highest stage of world football, the World Cup in 2026 at the age of 29 years where he was leading the Indonesian national team as Captain and even surprisingly bring Indonesia through the group phase with opponents such as Italy, Mexico and Serbia. But unfortunately their move must be stopped in the last 16 phase after losing 3-1 against Brazil. His name has been embraced by Indonesian football fans all over the world. After that he again amazed the world with the many goals he scored. Arya is a perfect example of what I wanted to achieve in my previous life.
‘I will also succeed this time. With this system, I will soon fly into space.’ I swear in my heart.
I quickly found a place to sit and put on my socks and shoes.
But the calm I wanted was immediately interrupted by some very annoying brats. I stood up and turned to look at the two people who had been close friends with me before I got hurt. They are Kevin Arata and Toni who are my former classmates and also from Kembangan. But after my accident, they distanced themselves from me and instead started making fun of me at school every day.
“Yo. Isn't this our famous captain, Nero Juniar.” Toni's a tall, skinny young man, speaking my bitches. He has a similar physique to Peter Crouch.
“Of course,” Kevin with a cynical smile chimed in the words of his friend.
“What is he doing here? He was supposed to go back to Kembangan eating potatoes and ngangon goat.”
“Perhaps, he is here to see us impress the scouts and join Jakarta Sports City.”
“It should be so..”
‘Haahhh vat blanks aloud it sounds.’ I thought facing the useless rant from the two of them while sighing.
“Kevin,Toni.” I said loudly while glaring at the two boys.
“What do you want? Do you guys need another beating?” I said asking while taking a few steps towards those two bastards. My height is now already higher than most other boys my age and thus looks very scary to both of them.
The two took a few steps back, looking a little panicked and occasionally stealing glances towards Raihan in the pavilion.
‘He must have told them to do this.’ Batinku concluded while observing the former rival. Raihan has always been a bully on any team he joins. I am not surprised that he has already sent his sycophant to bully me.
“Do you want another beating?” I said back while furrowing my brows as I glared at the two children. I wanted to make a stand and make sure that I wasn't bullied by the other brats during the cob aini test.
“You can try it.” Toni stutters.
“But are you sure you want to attack a trial registered candidate before the trial starts.?” She asked
I frowned and was about to give the boy a piece of his mind, but then I stopped. I was interrupted by some coaches who started to emerge from the dressing room and lined up on the grass in the middle of the pitch.
All the players hurriedly came out of the pavilion and gathered on the football field in front of the coaches.
“Good morning to all of you..” A fat old man with a long beard shouted. I'm familiar with this coach. He is the coach of Andreas, one of the youth development staff of Jakarta Sports City. He was a earnest man who coached several professional players who went on to play for the Indonesian national team in his golden years.
“I guess everyone here is already registered as a 2010 Youth Trial Examiner. If not, I suggest you leave now before I call security.” Coach Andreas added.
