Soccer System: Legendary Goalkeeper

Chapter 04 - The Final Test

Srug!

“Haa .. haa .. haa .. what is the ball to?” Reza stood up sweating.

“Great, great! You saved nine kicks, and a kick from the coach you couldn't save!” Riyandi approached Reza who was just standing with trembling legs.

Reza just realized that the Harapan High School team is not a youth team, the contents are strong people. Kick after kick he received, dazzling everyone.

However, the last kick, the ball enters the goal. It was a kick from coach Bima. Who does not know coach Bima? The former 2000s-era national team midfielder was branded as his powerful and accurate free kick.

Reza did not expect Bima to be at Harapan High School to train them. He still has a lot of questions, about how could a person as big as Bima be in the school. At the same time, Bima is training the U-16 national team.

“Huh?!” Reza.

He's understood. Bima is in Palu looking for talent from the famous Harapan High School club. Bima is looking for talent to do a concentration exercise that will roll from September 27 to October 15, 2022. The opportunity to become a retainer of the national team itself is only class 10 or class 1 High School.

The U-16 is preparing the best team to compete in the U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers 2023, the opening match of the national team on October 4 to October 10 as the closing game. This makes some students feel enthusiastic. Reza could only smile inwardly.

According to him, the U-16 national team has been terrible enough to win the AFF U-16 Cup, but coach Bima is still not satisfied with their performance so look for more talent hidden in Palu.

“OK, you take a break first, or watch some other tests. At the end of the meeting, there will be the last test!” Riyandi patted Reza on the shoulder with vigor.

Reza nodded his head. From the bead of his eyes was clearly a spirit that continued to smolder. Coach Bima kept smiling at Reza, even though he didn't notice it. After kicking the ball as hard as he could, Reza himself could still respond quite well, but his hand was unable to hold the ball.

“The child is special. I'll put it on the training concentration list.”

Unknown to Reza, his name has been included in the training center that took place in Jakarta to compete in the qualifying round of the Asian U-17 2023 Cup.

...……...

Reza drinks a nutritious isotonic drink. His energy wasted during the test slowly began to improve. Someone patted him on the shoulder, he looked up and found Haikal looking at him sharply.

“Ha-Haikal?”

“How can? How can?”

Reza was confused before the other sounds made him understand.

“Haikal! Where's Reza?” The one who said that was Cipto.

“This is it!” reply Haikal.

Both of them stared intensely at Reza. Reza felt uncomfortable then cleared his throat to make the situation liquid again.

“Looks like our goalkeeper is good! Ahaha!” Haikal clenched Reza's head with a happy feeling.

Cipto himself rubbed Reza's black hair. They ended up laughing together in the middle of the waiting room crowd. The three of them talked to each other.

Haikal apologized to Reza for his words after the game, they looked fine. Haikal, Cipto, and Reza made a circle of friends there.

Cipto and Haikal himself also entered the test for the Harapan High School football club. Of course hoping to qualify. 15 minutes they talked to each other, an announcement from the challenger was heard that all participants who participated in the recruitment were required to go to the football field.

The three of them also went to the football field accompanied by several other students. Arriving there, as many as 13 people who passed the test from a total of 100 registrations.

“For the thirteen who qualify will compete against the U-16 national team in the match twice forty-five minutes.” Coach Bima made a boisterous atmosphere instantly.

“Heh! This is our first challenge!” Cipto who first feel the spirit.

Meanwhile, the other 10 people could only be pensive. They qualified at the Harapan High School football club alone there is already a very deep gratitude, but now there must be a steep wall again.

The U-16 national team with coach Bima is the last test for those who qualify.

“OK! Here all, we will give you direction with our head coach!” Good call 13 people who escaped.

In the dressing room.

They are gathered to discuss the initial strategy as a unit working together to achieve at least a goal.

“Oke, I'm Sofyan. The head coach here, I will give you the starting line-up! Eleven will play, the rest will sit on the bench! Understood!?” A middle-aged man with a ferocious face, he was Sofyan.

“Ready, understand!” The thirteen students who escaped.

“The form I am using is 4-3-3. Listen to the names!”

The names of the starting line-up for the final test match were announced. On the tactical board it's written as well.

As the last defense under the crossbar was Reza Kusuma, he was the only goalkeeper to pass the test.

For the full-back there are Adi Satria and Arkhan escorting the right and left sides of the defense, they are also assigned to advance one of them to help the attack. The centre-backs are Muhammad Rafli and Haikal Ridwan.

Midfielder Auff Al-fauzi who served as a dealer of right-sided attacks, Angga Pratama is in the middle with orders as a box-to-box, then Teguh Sucipto ordered as a playmaker or regulator of attack as well as team play.

Then the attacker there is David Maulana, Cipto Prakarsa in the middle with Ari Dwi as a complement to the attacker.

“I want you to play according to what I give. Angga, according to your high enough technique, you can help both defense and attack.

“Steadfastly served as a playmaker, when the rest get the ball, you are assigned to drain the ball according to your observations and techniques that I saw quite well during the test earlier!

“Then the defender or defender, the central defender never go forward! Full-back is one of them going forward. If you have the chance, go ahead! Remember, if you have the chance!

“For attackers, you thirst for goals. Surely score a goal and make Bima amazed!”

The lengthy explanation from coach Sofyan made everyone understand. Everyone then did a light tos with vigor. The final test match will begin soon.

All were ordered to wear green vests, so that fellow colleagues would know. Reza himself had prepared with his gloves. His heart was pounding, this was his first match in High School.

“Definitely thrilling, right?” Haikal embraced Reza enthusiastically.

Reza just nodded his head. Then both teams exited the dressing room building entering the field. There they were suddenly cheered by the audience, the 2000-capacity grandstand was filled with students and schoolgirls watching.

This last test match is like an official match that attracts all attention. Some residents even watched.

Reza stood under the crossbar, in front of him, a 4-3-3 formation set up by coach Sofyan. The feeling is really amazing, being able to compete in the remaining days of the recruitment test, competing with the U-16 national team again.

Reza then shouted to the defenders. “Everything! The meeting yaa!” The four defenders nodded confidently.