The Era Of Footballer

Chapter 21 - Applause

Before this chapter begins, Author would like to thank the readers who have read, like, and make this novel a favorite of readers. As for anything else, Author wants to tell you about any inconsistencies or oddities of punctuation /*/.

This is because, Author rarely writes a full chapter immediately completed. Usually Author makes the Draft first, then when there is time and idea, Author continue. However, the Author only realized that making the chapter written as a Draft, will change the writing that should be italic or bold into a solid writing with the sign /* or **/.

Therefore, due to his inconvenience, the Author apologizes.

Happy reading and good fun!

***

August 1, 2015, is a historic day for Allagi High School football club, where Rigla and others attend school. School went on as usual, until the afternoon finally arrived.

As always, each club starts its own club activities. Everything was going normally, until the football club came into the football field. Everyone looked towards the members of the football club, whispering about spreading obscure rumors. Rigla and Diego walked with a small wicket, while the other members walked with other training equipment.

Unlike Rigla and Diego who were already indifferent, Hamka and the others still felt uneasy with the displeased gazes from the people around him.

"Is this enough?" ask Diego to put a small wicket.

The field used in 3v3 has an area of one side of the field/a quarter of the total field area.

"I think it's enough" replied Rigla who moved the other goalpost.

"Yes! Let's get started!" said Diego, who ran small to the middle of the field, preparing to start Kick-Off.

Moments earlier, while still inside the club room, Rigla split the team with Diego and Hamka respectively. Diego's team consists of Diego, Philip, and Bima. In Hamka's team are Hamka, Aji, and Firman.

"A-I'm fighting Brother Diego?!" hamka said with a point of her own.

"Haha! Let's make it a fun game!" said Diego patting Hamka on the back.

Philip and his friends faced each other and shook hands.

"Kak Diego's team will not lose" said Philip by giving a tos forward.

Rigla blows the whistle, Diego passes to the back. The ball was received by Bima and carried forward. Bima is blocked by Aji, but he quickly passes one-two to Philip. Bima brought the ball back leaving Aji who seemed surprised by the Bima-Philip's quick pass.

"Oper, oper!" shouted Diego who was in the opposing goal area.

Philip catapulted the ball into the opponent's goal area. Diego grinned at the ball that was coming to him. He immediately took the horses to launch a salto kick.

"Fire Shoo!" diego shouted with a fire on his right foot.

Hamka jumped, sweeping the ball forward.

"Hamka?!" said Diego who then fell to the ground with a face of disbelief.

"Back attack!" shouts Hamka with one hand forward.

The Word received the ball that Hamka swept away. When he just touched the ball, Bima was behind him. However, Firman calmly made a very beautiful move like an artist playing his brush.

By slightly pushing the ball using the back of his left foot, the Word rotates and the ball passes through both feet of Bima (collecting on Bima). Word immediately ran and gave the bait using his outer legs so that the ball moved like a crescent moon.

Aji quickly received the ball, a quick counter-attack could not be held up by Team Diego. Aji easily throws the ball into the goal.

Aji performs the celebration, followed by the tos of the Word and Hamka. The three celebrated with enough excitement to make Team Diego burn with anger.

"We're retaliating for this!" said Diego with fiery eyes.

"YES!" reply Philip and Bima.

***

The game continued with a goal kick from Team Diego. Bima passes to Philip, Philip dribbles slowly forward, trying to find space. Aji came in, Philip tried to keep the ball. A fierce duel ensued between the two. Philip tried to find space to pass the ball, but Diego was kept tight (by Hamka) so there was no room for the ball to pass.

Meanwhile Bima seemed hesitant because he did not dare to take risks like before. Philip felt annoyed at the confusion in making a decision. Aji who saw the small gap, immediately brushed it. He quickly lunged at Philip and stole the ball and then restarted the counter-attack.

Philip slipped slightly in surprise, but was able to get up straight away. However, the split-second difference was fatal, especially the opponent was the fastest player.

Aji quickly brought the ball forward, Bima who was still behind in the face of the 1v2 situation. Aji tries to play the ball, fishing for Bima to get closer to him. However, Bima continued to be in the right position, making Aji difficult in kicking or passing the ball.

The time Bima had given him was not wasted by Philip. Philip who kept running straight to clean Aji from behind. Aji fell, but not a foul. The ball came out, giving a corner kick to Team Hamka.

Philip stood up and proudly clashed against Bima.

"Geegh!" philip and Bima shouted like gladiators who had just won the fight. From a distance, Diego clenched his hands tightly, raised them to the level of his chest, and moved them slightly as he said, "Good!"

***

However, all of that was just a clever trick from Tim Hamka.

Aji immediately ran up to Word, sending Tim Diego off guard and losing focus. Word quickly kicked the ball, causing Team Diego to panic for a fraction of a second. Bima, Philip, and Diego immediately focused with Aji who ran closer to the Word. So they do not realize, that there is one more player who is already in a very comfortable position to kick.

Firman kicked the ball not towards Aji, but Hamka.

The ball that darted past Aji left Team Diego shocked. All three can only see where the ball is going and pour everything into the Above One.

Hamka ran towards the point he had expected, where the ball with his feet would meet. Hamka took a deep breath, gathering all the strength in his right leg.

The intense match between the two teams, has since caught the attention of everyone. Those who had been whispering, were made silent by the action of the members of the football club. Those who had been carrying out club activities, were sedated by the advances of Aji and the others.

Those who have intended to go home from school, undo their intentions and choose to spend time with an amazed look at the beauty of tactics and cooperation of the members of the football club.

Everyone around him focused his attention on Hamka, who was ready to kick the ball. Everyone involuntarily shouted, "TENDAAANGG!!".

Shouts of support made Hamka more confident. His chest was further puffed up, his strength was further maximized. "Huagghhhh!!" yelled Hamka confidently.

Tuing~ the ball passed through his feet just like that.

Everyone turned into a statue, no one could react because their expectations were completely shattered by the trivial.

Hamka immediately nodded with his head. Both hands were used to cover his face.

A-a-a-a-a-a-a-what did I just do?!!! hamka shouted in her heart.

Everyone laughed, not least Tim Diego and Tim Hamka. As laughter ripples, Diego realizes that it is not just "them" who is laughing, but everyone around the field.

Seeing football as it began to be accepted, made Diego more excited. Puffing his chest, he shouted, "Let's start a counterattack!" and followed by "Yes!" by his team-mates.

***

The fifteen minute match was over. Although it seems very short, but in fifteen minutes it has happened many things. The ability of each individual is increasingly visible, cooperation between players is increasing. And most importantly, football "begins" to be accepted by the students at the Allagi school.

Rigla blows a whistle marking the end of the match. The final score was 3-4, with the victory achieved by Team Hamka.

"We won!" hamka shouted followed by cheers from Aji and Bima.

"A good match. I can't wait for the other matches" said Philip approaching Hamka Team with Bima.

"Thank you, thank you" replied Hamka. "Hm? Where's Diego's brother?"

All five are like dazed people, looking for where Diego is. "Ah, that .. he ..." said Firman who then expressed a little disgust. The other four looked in the direction the Word pointed to, and the four also wore similar expressions.

Diego, who was roaring glumly like a child, made the five men a little disgusted.

Prok .. prok .. prok ...

The sound of clapping slowly grew faster and louder. The applause left both teams confused. Diego who was still on his back raised his head, looking around him. Hamka and the others also looked around.

The students applauded the great match that both teams had played.

"Cool! I can't wait to see your action again!"

"Diego! The fire was really terrible!"

"I don't know who he is, but he's so fast!"

Praise after praise was launched, making the club members blushed in shame but proud. "Is this ... called praise?" it was the word that came to mind Hamka and the four others. Only four ... because of Diego ....

"Ohh! Thank you, thank you!"

Proudly standing tall with both hands waved like a champion being pelted with flowers by his fans.

---===---

Thank you for reading. Don't forget to click the likes and favorites, yes!

---===---