“Come on man pass the ball” a soccer player on the field called out to the player on the ball. Richard not minding the call for the pass just pointed his hands in a direction while using the ball on his feet to do a sharp 360 degree turn dribbling past the opponent’s tackle.

The player on the field knowing what the hand signal meant began to make the run as Richard gave a ground pass to the surprise of his opponents as the angle he gave the pass was a tight and a nigh impossible angle, but as the ball left his feet, another player in the same jersey intercepted the ball and began running towards the goal of the opponent to the dismay of the team;

“Smith no” Richard called out in anger,

“Shut up prick, don’t hug all the attention to yourself” Smith bit back as he dribbled past two players and pushed the ball forward, his run had created a new opening for the team as the attack was now a four-on-two situation as all the attacking players called out for a pass but Smith ignored them all as he had one thought in his mind, the goal;

“What a goal that was” the commentator spoke as soon as the ball hit the back of the net “you just know you can’t stop him once he gets into his strides. The young sensation, Smith, picks up the pass from another fast-rising star, Richard, as he makes a run for a beautiful solo goal that would definitely go down as one of the best this season…” they continued to leave their comments until the half-time whistle was blown.

“What the hell was that for, guy” Richard said as he walked up to Smith who was standing with a bottle of water with a towel round his neck as he spoke with his friends;

“Aww, the little princess didn’t get her chance to shine, what do you want to do cry? Wahhh wahhhh” he mimicked a crying child as Smith and his friends began to laugh, there were even some giggles amongst the other players as Richard began to fume internally:

“Remember my son, only a wild animal would act out once provoked. I know you are strong but true strength comes from the heart” he remembered his mother’s words as he breath in and then out so as to calm down. Now calm he opened his eyes and spoke:

“Look Smith, I never had such intentions but it would be best for the team if you could play a part in it, we would completely squash the boys from Ibadan” Richard said as he brought out a hand for a shake “why don’t we put aside out differences so we can do this”.

This action was a shock to all as Richard and Smith have never seen eye to eye since their grade four. The competition between both of them grew until it became toxic, Smith would always try and harm Richard every bit of strength he has so as to get one up him but Richard never reacted negative but instead his leadership skills drew people closer to him as he grew more famous as the day went.

PAH

A shocking but not totally unexpected situation occurred as Smith slapped the back of Richard’s palm away:

“Hahahaha, fool, do you think I need the team, I am smarter, I am faster and I am stronger, I am better than all of you, why the hell do I need a team” he said as he spat out making Richard’s face turn red with anger.

“Come on man, don’t take it too deep, what were you expecting, that Smith would suddenly become a team player?” a boy came and patted his back.

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“Come on, you know better than that. Look even though we all despise Smith but he is very essential to the squad, it is our role to help make his attitude not affect the game” the boy said as he poured water into his mouth;

“Dave, can you hear yourself, this is to be an important moment in my Academy career, do you think I should gamble it on the bad behavior of a player” Richard said as he put the mouth of his bottle in his mouth.

SQUUUUEEEEK

The door to the dressing room opened as an obsessed man enter wearing a sport outfit and a cap as he held a snack in his hand “good job out there, boys”

“Thanks coach” they all responded in unity;

“Any talking points would be suggested and brought up after the game, just do your thing and be natural, let nothing disrupt your mental capacities…” the coach began his pep talk as two people at the back couldn’t help but give themselves murderous stares. If looks could kill then the two of them would have long ceased to exist.

Hearing the whistle that the fifteen-minute break was over they all stood up to head out when instead of walking out, Smith walked towards Richard “hey captain” he said with a dangerous smile “don’t just get in my way, I have bigger dreams than just remaining in this slump here in Lagos, scouts are out there as well, do not get on my nerves” Smith said as he gently tapped the boy’s shoulders and walked out leaving a shocked Richard standing and trying his very best to hold down his anger “If that is your goal then why don’t you help the team out” he said out in frustration as he jogged out of the dressing room.

---

“Ladies and gentlemen this match has got all the thrills it need to be made a classic, although we are in Lagos we can say this particular match has more thrills than the past UEFA champions League final”

“Ayo, I think that’s too far but yes, I do agree that it has all the thrills to be a classic. No one expected that the boys in the high schools and local academies out here in the slump would have such great talents”

“Eagle height academy took the lead with Smith’s goal in the first half and with a beautiful teamwork effort, then at the beginning of the second half, Bulaba school as thanks for the gifted ball got one back off the error of Smith who is still reeling in disbelief apparently as it led to miscommunication between him and the captain, it must really be tough right now as your own mistakes had single-handedly given the opponent a chance in these knockout stages”

“Come to think of it the fourth official has just raised his board now for four minutes added time, are the Eagles going to find their way back or the Bulabas going to hit the final nail in the coffin tonight” the commentators said as they spoke about the match in full.

‘What the hell is the coach doing, keeping this idiot on’ Richard thought as he ran by the side of Smith as they interchangeable passes before he kicked it out to a person that’s more open to continuing the attack, earning him a murderous stare from Smith, “I am sorry but this match is way passed a redemption for you’ Richard said inwards as he sighed.

The whole team watched in dismay as they watched Smith tackle a fellow player to take the ball, the crowd had begun jeering but he didn’t mind as he took a few more steps to the goal and hit it with all his might, but this time the ball came off the top of the bar as it rebound far into the pitch as the counter was on.

Bulaba were known for one thing across the nation, that is their speed, they didn’t have a team apart from Eagle height that could handle them once they were off but here they were the most undesirable situation Eagle height could want, a rapid counter attack from them.

The winger sped down the wing as he got past a defender, getting past the half way line and another defender he laid the ball open to another striker who took first-time shot that was heading into the net when out of nowhere Richard slid the ball out to his keeper saving them as he looked at the time and saw it was a minute left and he had 100 meters in front of him.

Pointing forward with his hands he began sprinting, he looked like a blur running through the length of the field and then he raised his hands as the keeper launched the ball out, a Bulaba midfielder tried to head it out but was overpowered by the charging Richard who won the duel and kept on running.

He took on three players and skillfully left them behind as he moved, the momentum in the crowd had hit the crescendo as just outside the eighteen box he released a venomous shot that caused the net to ripple hard.