Kay arrived at the academy to find it quiet and empty. He waited, and after half an hour, Ramirez showed up.
"Morning, Kay," Ramirez greeted. "You're early."
"Morning, Mr. Ramirez," Kay replied. "I couldn't sleep. Too excited about the match."
With a laugh, Ramirez said. "Because it's your first match; I recall being overly excited for my first match as well."
"I can't imagine that," said Kay with a smile.
Ramirez continued with a serious expression, "Kay, I need to talk to you before everyone arrives."
Kay watched him, waiting for him to say more.
Ramirez continued. "You know, Kay, I was supposed to be your instructor during your training here at the academy. But honestly, I didn't want to teach you anything in the beginning."
Kay looked puzzled. "Why do you tell me that now?"
"At first, I wasn't happy with the idea of you being a coach here at such a young age," Ramirez admitted.
"But after watching your training sessions, you changed my impression of you, but then I didn't teach you anything because I realized you didn't need much instruction. You're excellent at what you do. In fact, I ended up learning from you."
Kay was taken aback. "Really?"
Ramirez nodded. "Yes. I've watched you closely, and I've seen how you've improved the team's level, even me I couldn't realize that. I'm very proud of working with you, Kay."
Just then, the kids started arriving, ending their conversation. Kay felt a surge of confidence from Ramirez's words. Today's match would be a true test of all their hard work.
After a while, the bus arrived, and Kay gathered his three key players.
"Don't use the L-shaped attack until I give you the signal."
The kids then confirmed with a nod.
He added, "I haven't told the other players about it because I think if they know and I call for this tactic, they might stop playing actively since they won't have a direct role. That would make it easy for the defenders to just follow Taylor."
With that, they all boarded the bus.
As they settled in, Kay began checking the stats of the other players:
- - -
Player: Alex
Pace: 25
Shooting: 25
Passing: 21
Dribbling: 20
Defending: 11
Physical: 13
- - -
- - -
Player: Liam
Pace: 26
Shooting: 19
Passing: 23
Dribbling: 23
Defending: 18
Physical: 14
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- - -
- - -
Player: Mark
Pace: 18
Shooting: 17
Passing: 15
Dribbling: 10
Defending: 25
Physical: 17
- - -
- - -
Player: Ethan
Div: 20
Han: 21
Kic: 19
Ref: 26
Spd: 15
Pos: 25
- - -
As the bus began moving, Kay asked Ramirez about the team's current standings.
Ramirez explained that if they won, they would jump to the seventeenth place. If they drew, they would move up to eighteenth. In the case of a defeat, they would stay in nineteenth place, especially since the two teams above them had lost their matches yesterday.
Kay decided to share this news with the kids to motivate them.
The team arrived at the Giants Academy and was immediately struck by the size and grandeur of the facility compared to the Junior Eagles Academy.
Kay was shocked at the sheer scale of it.
(The Giants Academy's image; look at comments)
The Giants Academy had sprawling, well-manicured fields, modern buildings with sleek glass facades, and an impressive array of training equipment and facilities.
Ramirez explained that the Giants Academy housed all age categories of teams, unlike the Eagles, which only had youth teams.
As they made their way inside, they were greeted by a tall, broad-shouldered man with a warm smile.
He had a friendly demeanor, with a neatly trimmed beard and short-cropped hair.
His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and experience, suggesting a long history in coaching.
"Welcome to the Giants Academy," the man said, extending a hand to Ramirez and then to Kay.
"I'm Coach Hernandez. I used to be the head coach of this team before Leo took over for this month. Leo asked me to meet you and show you around. He'll meet you at the stadium later; he's busy right now."
Coach Hernandez led them through the facility, pointing out various areas: the state-of-the-art gym, the indoor training areas, the locker rooms, and finally the path to the stadium.
Everywhere they looked, young players were training, practicing drills, and getting ready for their matches, all under the watchful eyes of their coaches.
The atmosphere was buzzing with energy and professionalism, making it clear that this was a place where future football stars were being groomed.
As they walked, Coach Hernandez shared insights about the academy's history and its philosophy. "We believe in developing well-rounded players here, both on and off the field. Our facilities are designed to provide the best possible environment for young athletes to grow and succeed."
When they reached the stadium, Coach Hernandez turned to Kay and Ramirez. "This is where it all happens. Leo will be here shortly to meet you. Best of luck for the match, and I hope you find our facilities inspiring."
After the tour, with two hours left before the match, Kay gathered the kids in the locker room without waiting for Leo for a final review of their defensive tactics.
He carefully explained the strategies, emphasizing the importance of maintaining their formation and communicating effectively.
As he spoke, the sounds of the audience filling the stadium began to filter through the walls, creating an electric atmosphere.
Kay led the kids onto the field for their warm-up. When he stepped out and saw the sea of fans, he was shocked.
He hadn't expected such a huge turnout for an under-10 match. The stadium was almost full, with a loud and enthusiastic crowd.
The stands were a mix of vibrant colors, dominated by the dark red of the Giants Academy's supporters.
As the Eagles Academy team emerged onto the field, the Giants fans began chanting, "Five! Five! Five!" Their voices boomed, creating an intimidating and overwhelming environment.
Kay looked around, confused by the chant.
His gaze shifted to his players, and he noticed them all lowering their heads, staring at the ground in disheartened silence.
The few Eagles Academy fans huddled together in a small section of the stands and tried their best to cheer for their team.
They waved flags and clapped, their support unwavering but noticeably quieter in comparison to the deafening roar of the Giants' supporters.
Despite their best efforts, they were clearly outnumbered and overwhelmed by the sheer volume and energy of the Giants fans.
Kay was stunned by the situation; he didn't understand why the fans were chanting "five." Feeling a growing concern, he turned to Ramirez and asked about the meaning behind the chant.
Ramirez, looking a bit uneasy, explained, "The last match between our teams at the Eagles Academy ended with a score of 5-1 in favor of the Giants."
Kay's heart sank. He turned to Ramirez, his disappointment evident.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration and anger.
Ramirez was taken aback by Kay's reaction. "I didn't think it was important," he responded, somewhat defensively.
"It's very important," Kay said firmly. "These kids are under 10. Their mental strength is still developing. They need support to overcome such a hard defeat. I could have worked with them to build their confidence and prepare them mentally for this match."
Seeing Ramirez's shocked expression, Kay took a deep breath and softened his tone.
"I'm sorry, Ramirez. I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just worried that all the training we've done might not be enough if the kids are still affected by that loss."
Ramirez nodded, understanding Kay's concern. "I get it. I should have thought about it. But you've done a great job with them, Kay. They trust you. Just talk to them like you always do."
Kay then nodded and suddenly came towards the children and started motivating them.
See you in the next chapter ...
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