The Story of Sigma Men
5. Swim
This Kedemangan River used to be ten meters wide, but since it was built or made a kind of stone wall and cement width reduced to about six meters only.
The old story, far below the 2000s, this river can be traversed jukung boat and various types of boats and other ships, he said, because since time immemorial before entering the government of the Dutch East Indies the only transportation route in Palembang only by boat.
Hence Palembang had earned the nickname of Venice from the East because of the geographical shape of Palembang which is surrounded by many tributaries, all of the small rivers downstream to the Musi River. That is the unique thing about this city.
One of its tributaries is the Kedemangan River. Stories from parents also that this river was once clean and there was no garbage. The water is so jerni. Before PAM, people used river water to bathe and wash.
Well, this afternoon, Zahid will teach Uzlah to swim in the Kedemangan River. Along the river filled with children and teenagers who are engrossed in bathing in water rides alone, like being entertaining themselves on fantasy island.
The water depth varies. Some are only half a meter, one meter, the deepest when the big tide can reach two meters. Because it is still learning, of course Uzlah will bathe in the lowest level depth, about half a meter only.
The mentor, the little Zahid, gave an early theory before Uzlah threw himself together and joined the other children. He taught us to remain calm, rest assured that our bodies will still rise to the top and float on the surface.
Zahid continued to brainwash Uzlah and give a kind of believe system, so that Uzlah sure that he would be able to swim, and, because there are some people who until adulthood still can not swim because there is no trust from within him.
Zahid is warming up. He jumped up and down to do jumping jacks, then stretched the muscles of his hands and feet. He ordered Uzlah to imitate his movements. Next he told Uzlah to plunge into the shallow water.
“Take a long breath from your mouth, sink your head for a while, then exhale from your nose, and lift your head again, Uzlah!”
Uzlah followed the command and repeated the movement ten times.
“Hold the lips of this path, Uzlah, with both hands. Then let your body float, keep swinging your legs, right up and left down, different directions, continuously anyway....
Reassure yourself, you can! Make yourself fly on the water. Keep doing this movement. Keep doing. Remember, make sure you will float on the water. Remember too, stay calm, set your breath.”
Then Uzlah was told to stand up. River water is only limited to the keteknya.
“Lift your legs and shake like you want to kick. Make your feet in control to keep you afloat. Keep your hands on too, don't let your hands go, shake like pedaling. That movement will make your body fly over the water.”
Nearly an hour of swimming went on. But Uzlah still did not dare to go deeper into the middle of the river rather deeper. He was still bathing with the other children on the outskirts alone.
While Zahid can't wait to swim. He jumped into the middle of the teenage man and plunged his hands and head into the water. Then, he swam bolting. Great not to play. Swim bolsters.
Zahid let his body float in the supine position, just like a man bolted on a mattress, his legs make the river water splashed, and both of his hands were swinging furiously driving his body to keep moving.
His face was facing the sky. His two eyes flickered exclaimingly dispelling the piercing specks of water on his face. Heart's beating. His mouth was getting more and more drawn and exhaled.
Just like learning to bike, Uzlah also needs time to be able to swim. Four days in a row he visited the village where Zahid lived in order to learn from his teacher.
Very good Zahid. The kids are teachers.
On the third day Uzzlah. The ground he was treading on was very deep, beyond his estimation. At first he took a bath on the edge, then carried the current to the middle. Fortunately, many people were swimming and Uzlah was easily carried to the edge again.
“How does the water taste? Cute?” Zahid smiled in bloom.
Until one full week finally Uzlah ventured to swim to the middle of the river, even he also invited Zahid to race swimming with his start from here and the finish of the Musi River. Zahid accepted the challenge.
At the beginning of the race was so good. Zahid in butterfly style was able to lead the race for one minute. Uzlah was a bit overwhelmed with his freestyle. While this is just freestyle he can do.
While the mentor, of course, can be a lot. Backstroke, free-aged, butterfly, frog or chest, side style, crawl, stone style, and of course bolster style. All of them were controlled by Zahid at the age of five. It really is her river.
And it is true that Uzlah was far behind. Until finally it was clear Zahid had won. He was sitting on a bridge, not far from the banks of the Musi River. Laughing cheerfully, Zahid waved his right hand left and right, a kind of sign: I am the winner!
***
During being in the first grade in the first and second semester Uzlah performed brilliantly. The value in all the subjects is so good, almost perfect, such as the Quran Hadith, Akidah Akhlak, Fikih, PPKN, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Mathematics, and Cultural Arts.
While Zahid in the second semester is ranked fifth, his achievements are somewhat decreased because from here he began to be saturated with educational curriculum, he was a little uncomfortable with the systems that have been made.
Although still diligent if given notes, practice, PR, and taking exams, but he did not do so wholeheartedly. Zahid the little guy sometimes likes to be lazy to do it.
“Zahid, note that what guru wrote!” Uzlah's orders. At that time during the PPKN lesson, Zahid even drew something in the back book, instead of taking notes and busy with his own thoughts.
Uzlah often helps Zahid do PR because otherwise Zahid would be lazy too. Especially about the calculations, Zahid the little one is somehow not so fanatical about the numbers.
Once, during Akidah Akhlak's lesson, the teacher threw a question to Zahid because Zahid was found to be asleep during lesson time. “Note the pillars of faith?” ask the teacher.
Zahid flinched because his name had just been called. He rubbed his eyes. Soon Uzlah who was next to him gave a paper that had been written the answer.
“Reply reply!” whiskey Uzlah.
Zahid then stood up and spoke loudly, mentioning the pillars of faith. Not once like that, if Uzlah was not there beside him, whether Zahid would be at what level.
About lessons, Uzlah often teaches and motivates Zahid to remain enthusiastic in following all the lessons given by the teacher in the classroom. Uzlah also held a visit to Zahid's house, asking whether it had made PR or not.
From small they are very compact. Not only learning, playing, and selling, but they also clop in discussing and arguing. The two little boys really became friends and fierce competitors.
Lessons, races, arguments, or keeping each other's idol football clubs. One night Uzlah played at Zahid's house. Go watch the ball. They even wear the jersey of their idol club.
“Liverpool will win. The devil's club just lost!” cercah Zahid with a slanted smile.
Uzlah not accept. “ Never won the league even though Indonesia has changed president five times. Embarrassment!”
“Emyu was great in the Ferguson era. Before and early two thousand years. Arsenal are the only rival to Emyu. Liverpool, Chelsea and City are still ugly. Then into the era of Chelsea glory when Mourinho entered. Then City's success was fitting that Aguero goal, must hurt that much, end-end Emyu failed champion haha.....
After Ferguson pulled out, who became rivals Liverpool not Emyu anymore, but City. Hey Uzlah, if Ferguson was told to coach Emyu again in the present era, Liverpool coached Klopp and City coached Pepp, although the top Emyu players at that time were brought too, he said, Emyu will still be defeated, even if Ferguson is the coach.....
That's my analysis. The longer the competition in the English league is getting tougher. It is becoming more and more unpredictable who will be the champion. That is the beauty of football because reality and results are not based on data on paper. What say?”
“Yes I almost agree with you, Zahid. Emyu can be many times champions are trained by a great coach and filled by top players in his time, but when viewed from the other side, it is very important, indeed at that time his opponents on not all good, except Arsenal.”
“But Uzlah, I am sure after the glory of City and Liverpool, will be back as before, the glory of Emyu and Arsenal. Prediction me, as a Liverpool fan who so. My hope, as a big fan of the Reds, hopes to remain Liverpool la champion.”
They continued to watch the ball. Final score 0 – 5. Emyu was humiliated in her own cage!
In the morning Uzlah challenged Zahid to play PES. After the breakfast of bread and milk that was prepared by his mother Zahid, then now they sit right in front of the lcd tv, their hands holding sticks and focusing on the match this Sunday morning.
Zahid who is his daily life is to play PES while at home certainly will not feel difficulty against Uzlah, because Uzlah play PES a few times, it is also fitting to visit Zahid's house. He did not have and never visited a rental.
“How will I reply!” scream Uzlah.
Throughout the game, Zahid applied Barcelona-style tiki-taka style of play. At least, he will master the ball possession and make Uzlah somewhat uncomfortable because it seems to be played. The 4-3-3 formation that he applied made Zahid really master the game.
While Uzlah apply a 3-4-2-1 formation. Actually this formation is more likely to survive by relying on three CBs. The attack path relies more on the winger on the left and right, then provide a crossing pass from the side of the field towards the striker.
Not so mastered passing technique, Uzlah apply the concept of pragmatic football, the ball from behind immediately kicked bounced far forward towards the attacking midfielder and striker, passing two pivots in the middle.
Hence his ball possession 65 – 35. Far-away. Passingnya also Zahid far superior, 235 – 134. The second half was finished and the score was still glasses. Zahid prioritized technique and tactics, while his opponent had an important principle of winning.
In the extra half there were a lot of attacks launched by Zahid and there was one big chance that was converted into a goal. Finally Zahid excels thin, 1 – 0. In the next match Uzlah managed to give a fight.
Of the five matches, Uzlah managed to win twice. Outside of school, Zahid still excels.
