Episode 5: The Selection
Tunde stood with the other boys, his heart pounding in his chest. The tryout was over, but the most important part was about to begin—the selection. The coaches gathered in the middle of the field, discussing the players. Some boys whispered among themselves, others stood in silence, anxiously waiting for their names to be called.
Coach Michael stepped forward, holding a clipboard.
Coach Michael: "Good effort from everyone today. But football is about skill, teamwork, and discipline. Only a few will make it to the next stage. If you hear your name, step forward."
The field fell silent. The only sound was the wind rustling through the trees.
Coach Michael: "Bolaji!"
Bolaji, the strong striker from Team A, smirked and walked forward.
Coach Michael: "Daniel!"
Daniel pumped his fist in the air and joined Bolaji.
Coach Michael: "Sule!"
The quiet midfielder gave a small nod and stepped forward.
Tunde clenched his fists. His chest tightened with nerves.
Coach Michael flipped the page.
Coach Michael: "Tunde Ibrahim!"
Tunde froze for a moment. Had he heard right?
Chinedu (whispering): "Omo! Dem call your name! Go front!"
Tunde’s legs felt weak, but he forced himself to walk forward, his heart racing. He had made it!
After calling a few more names, the coach looked at the remaining boys.
Coach Michael: "If I did not call your name, don’t be discouraged. Keep training, and try again next time."
Some boys sighed in disappointment, others walked away angrily. But Tunde wasn’t thinking about them.
He had done it. He was officially selected for the tournament.
A New Journey Begins
As the selected boys gathered, Coach Michael gave them their schedule.
Coach Michael: "You have one week to prepare for the tournament. Training starts tomorrow morning, 6 AM sharp. Don’t be late!"
Tunde smiled to himself. He knew this was just the beginning. But he was ready.
He would work harder than ever. He would make his dream come true.
Episode 6: The Hard Road to Greatness
Tunde could hardly believe it. He had been selected to train at the Nigeria Youth Training Ground, a place where the best young footballers in the country prepared for international competitions. The journey to becoming a professional footballer had truly begun.
He arrived at the training center, a massive facility with lush green pitches, gym areas, and dormitories for the players. He was one of the youngest there, but he didn’t let that intimidate him. In two years, he would be 12 and eligible to compete in the U-13 World Cup.
The Hard Training Begins
The first day of training was intense. Coach Samson, a strict but fair man, gathered all the young players and spoke to them.
Coach Samson: "Football is not just about talent. It’s about hard work, discipline, and dedication. If you want to make it to the U-13 World Cup, you must train harder than you ever have before."
Tunde and his teammates nodded, determined.
Training Drills:
Endurance Runs – They ran 5 kilometers every morning before touching a ball.
Agility Ladder Drills – Quick foot movements to improve speed and coordination.
Ball Control –
Dribbling through cones
One-touch passing
Juggling the ball for at least 100 touches without letting it drop
Strength Training –
Push-ups, squats, and core exercises to build stamina.
Finishing Practice –
Shooting at different angles.
Learning how to chip the ball over goalkeepers.
Small-Sided Matches –
5 vs. 5 games to improve teamwork and decision-making.
After the first week, Tunde was exhausted but refused to give up.
Conversations with Teammates
One evening, after training, he sat on the grass with his new friends, Daniel and Sule.
Daniel (panting): "Omo! This training no be joke! My legs don tire!"
Sule (smiling): "But na wetin we sign up for. If e easy, everybody go dey play for World Cup."
Tunde laughed, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Tunde: "I no go lie, I dey feel am. But I dey think about my mama. She for happy to see me here."
Sule patted Tunde’s shoulder.
Sule: "She go dey watch you from heaven. Just keep pushing."
Tunde nodded, feeling a new wave of motivation. He looked at the sunset over the training field and made a promise to himself:
"No matter how hard it gets, I won’t stop. I will make it to the U-13 World Cup."
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 270 Episodes
Comments