Second Chances: Indonesian Football Player
Chapter 8: First Phase Trial (2)
*PRIIIITTTTT*
In the scorching heat of the day, me and the other participants in the fourth group immediately ran as soon as coach Rian blew his whistle. The last race in the youth football trial in Jakarta has started.
I didn't bother spying on my other opponents, I ran with only releasing half of my top speed. It was a 32-lap race with a total of about 8 miles. I need to save my energy by not taking it all out in my first steps.
However, such important players, Gabriel and Faishal are in their own classes. Both were unmatched when they found empty space during the second lap. They darted forward at their fastest speed and immediately led an entire group of 30 players. And of course stubbornly Arya clings to them the child prodigy Indonesia.
To my surprise, there was a boy of about 171cm whom I had never met in my previous life as well as part of the group that was leading at the front this time. The group of four children began to distance themselves from the others, a feat that caused me to be a little self-conscious. So I went back to speeding up my run.
I increased my speed to just a few meters behind them during lap 6. However, the four children stubbornly maintained their lead despite all his efforts.
Over the next twenty laps, their group accelerated in front of the others, averaging 70 seconds per lap. Their time is only about 10 seconds behind the world's top runners. They almost left the rest behind.
Gabriel leads with Real Madrid jersey. Ahmad Faishal and Arya overshadowed each step, both wearing Manchester United and Barcelona jerseys. The boy I didn't know was also attached to the group. However, it seems like she started to lose her stamina so I easily caught up with her.
I maintained my acceleration and passed Faishal and Arya as well. On lap 28, only Gabriel was still in front of me. With only 3 laps left, I began to minimize my lag. Meanwhile Gabriel kept running and pushed harder to do everything to shake up his rivals. But he was also overtaken by me towards the end of lap 29.
I was dizzy from excitement but I kept my fast pace. I kept running along the brown clay track in the stadium. I certainly have no intention of losing my lead.
The nail under my shoe gripped the earth in a steady rhythm. My move was like being the lyrics of an original song that I played for the audience and the coaches watching from the sidelines. My sweat had been dripping for a long time and started flowing down my skin.
I had been jogging an average of five miles every day for two weeks prior to my trip here. My fitness can defend against a few laps left around the field.
But at the beginning of the 31st round, I saw a shadow passing by and leaving me in the dust. Well who else if not a child prodigy, Arya who has caught up with me with only about 800 meters more for this race to finish.
‘Sial’ umpatku in heart.
I also sped up my pace to chase after him, but failed.
‘Sial, damn will I lose?’ I growled with burning angry eyes.
I work harder to increase my speed. The pain in his limbs was a sea of unknown depths and was like a lurking ferocious beast. But I ignored her and continued to chase after Arya's shadow.
A feeling of despair enveloped me. I felt my feet become heavy as if burdened by lead.
‘I have to win this any way.’ I growled in my heart with increasingly burning eyes.
I used up all the spare energy he had never expected before and accelerated quickly instantly.
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Coach Andreas stood on the sidelines watching the race. He was particularly interested in a fourth group of two very attractive boys who were previously noticed by the scouts of Jakarta Sports City. They all participated in the U-14 regional tournament. Arya Bathara has been the best player in the high school competition held in Malang at the beginning of the year. Another boy, Nero Juniar, was once the captain of a school in Kembangan. He has also won the 2008 best player award in the Jakarta U-14 region.
The two boys did not disappoint him.
“Bathara, the boy will win this race.” Coach Rian spoke from his left.
“Nero and the rest are exhausted with stamina and have no chance to catch up.” Added.
“Let's wait and see.” Coach Andreas smiled.
“A competition is never won until the end of the competition.” Said. He refocused on the running form of Arya and Nero.
The result of the race looked like it had been determined who won after the last corner. Arya happily headed towards the finish line while I desperately chased. But with half a lap left, I forcefully forced my body and ran like a horse that ran very fast.
With 30 yards left, I miraculously accelerated past Arya before darting to the finish line. I didn't look at the people behind me or the coaches on the sidelines, my focus remained fixed on the finish line until I won the race.
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“Karvin,Ryandi,Kevin,Toni,Raihan,Faishal,Gabriel,Fiqih,Hilmy,Arya and Nero.” Coach Andreas closed his note book after reading the names of the players with the best time in the race.
As promised, coach Andreas only selected 26 boys among those gathered. Those named by coach Andreas entered the centre circle of the pitch as part of the group selected to return to the test match the following day.
My name was the last one called because I had the best time in the whole group. Coach Andreas read out that list of winners in order from late to fastest. I staggered into the middle circle, getting some wrinkles and hmmph from – people like Raihan and his former classmates Toni and Kevin.
I noticed that the eyes of most of the selected players were on me, unlike before. But I ignored them all and found an empty place to sit. I still have to check the mission results of my system.
At the end of the race, I was too tired to even lift a finger. I have decided to rest for a few minutes; however, the coaches have called everyone to take part in the post-race meeting.
Only then did I get time to open the system user interface. I've made sure that it won't be visible to anyone else. So I boldly opened the mission tab and looked at my achievements.
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Mastery Quest
4 New Messages
- You have completed the first task in the serial mission – Youth Football Test in Jakarta (Be the first in the physical fitness test at the trial.)
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- Mission Gifts.
1. Elixir Agility Enhancer Rank B (Available in system stores; Temporarily unlocked. The user must take the drug within 10 seconds after being removed from the system store.)
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Mission Summary
Task 1: Be the first in physical fitness testing at the football trial. (Finished race in record time 39.18 minutes; Rating A+)
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- Overall Mission Rating: N/A (Available at the end of the trial)
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Bonus Rewards
You have earned a bonus of 2 EXP Points.
****
I finally saw that I had completed the system mission with an A+ value
But of course I'm not opening a system store to access my present. I closed the system and looked up only to see the unselected boys marching out of the field with a sad expression. I can't remember the times I was part of that group in my previous life.
I breathed a sigh of sympathy.
At this point in his past life, I had returned to my former school in west Jakarta with no hope of becoming a professional footballer. I had been rejected by the school team after that due to his recurrent ankle injury. But now, I have passed the first stage of youth trials in Jakarta. My fate started to get better.
‘I have to perform better in tomorrow's game. I should be able to move to Europe and seriously develop my career there.’ Thought.
“Listen to everything.” Shouted coach Andreas as the players who failed to leave the stadium.
“Happy to have passed the first exam today. Tomorrow, some famous scouts will be here to watch you perform. Make sure you're here at eight. If not, you will be immediately disqualified.” The coach warned me seriously.
“There are questions?” he asked while looking around.
The strange boy who was also part of the leading group in the race immediately raised his hand.
“Ya.” Coach Andreas looked up to him.
“Tell us your name first before asking any questions.”
“My name is Ryandi Ferdianur sir.” Said the boy.
“What will be involved in the trial tomorrow? How should we prepare?” she asked.
‘Ryandi Ferdianur?, He is one of the famous entrepreneurs in my past right.? Why is he here? And why didn't he become famous for being so physically fit?.Wait for. I think I know why. He was a player who disappeared before he went to Europe in my previous life. It turned out to disappear and instead became one of the most successful entrepreneurs. ’ Thought.
I understand why I don't recognize a very fit player like him. Ryandi Ferdianur has disappeared and was allegedly killed at the hands of local thugs in Jakarta after being selected by one of the good academies in Europe. All the coaches in Jakarta are very sorry after hearing the news for losing such a very young talent. But it doesn't seem right, there may be another reason he went missing and reappeared as a businessman.
’I should probably help him to stay in Europe this time, it looks like he is very excited about football. Indonesia needs more players like him for international tournaments.’ I thought while glancing at Ryandi.
“There is only a test match tomorrow.” Answer Coach Andreas.
“Eat well, rest well, and be prepared to perform tomorrow morning. That's it.” Answer Coach Andreas .
“There are more questions?”
All players remain silent.
“OK, you guys are dissolved.” Coach Andreas waved impatiently.
“We'll all meet tomorrow.”
