Dream : Legend Maker
Hope

WARNING: Any form of name, place, background is fiction

The sun is already at its highest point, but this does not make some people to take shelter from the sting. The sound of the screams of several men and whistles could be heard from a distance.

"Damn, I told you to run, didn't you hear it"

A middle-aged man shouted to some men who were running in the field. The middle-aged man's name was Dani. For 5 years he has served as the main coach of Persija Jakarta. Top League 1 clubs in Indonesia. In his tenure as the main coach of Persija Jakarta he has given 2 trophies so it is enough to prove his quality as a coach. But this season he can not defend the title again after failing to fight for the top of the League 1 class.

His disappointment at failing to win the league made Persija Jakarta's last training session as a material impingement. The brutal exercises that have started since nine in the morning until now are still continuing.

The players continued to run back and forth according to coach Dani's orders. After about ten minutes he blew his whistle to gather. Dani glanced at the watch in his hand before frowning his forehead and looking at the player in front of him.

"This season has been a bad season for us, remember the failure to get this trophy for the next season. Stretch out and go home, we'll see you again next month."

Dani handed a stretching session to her assistant before walking towards her office.

A fairly relaxed stretching session had been completed, the players immediately headed for the dressing room together. The whispers of the swearing aimed at Dani sounded vague.

"Raka, let's go home together after this"

"Ga wait for ji, the coach ordered me to come to his office. I'm going home by myself"

"OK" said Aji

Raka and Aji are friends who were met through Persija Jakarta youth training program. The similarity of their love of football makes them both become familiar quickly. But different from Aji who is considered a football genius, Raka is just a mediocre young man.

Raka knocked on Dani's coach before being invited in. Raka felt nervous when stared at by Dani. Coach Dani knocks his finger at the table and thinks what he's going to say.

"I will be frank with you, honestly when I see you during my training your potential is mediocre to be found along the way. This season is the end of your contract and the director is not thinking about extending your contract. The competition in football is tough enough you know, stop playing football before it's too late. You can still do something else anyway that's the advantage of being young. Go back"

This moment is what Raka really wants to avoid, he knows with his average talent it is difficult for him to pursue a career as a professional footballer. But in the end, what will happen still happens like the present moment.

His love of football kept him stubborn to become a professional footballer. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in Persija Jakarta's youth coaching program. His relentless hard work made him qualify for Persija Jakarta's main squad even though the real situation was never played and his name was not included in the competition. It had been a full year that he was in the regular squad and now coach Dani has given him the death penalty.

Raka bowed before turning home with mixed feelings. All kinds of emotions are sadness, anger, disappointment, confusion, and despair.

After returning to his rental boarding house Raka just lay down and stared blankly into the ceiling of his room. Everything that happened until now felt like a dream to him. It was at that moment that his phone rang which woke him from a daydream. Raka looked at her phone with a complicated look before forcing a smile and lifting it up.

"Hello dad"

"How are you doing, son?"

"Your son is fine, yeah."

Raka's father asked various things before deciding on a call. Raka could only lie and sigh to his father. He is the only person who supports him to pursue his goals as a professional footballer. Raka did not want to disappoint her Father who wholeheartedly supported her.

Raka shook her head and revealed spirit in her eyes. He must not be trapped in despair for too long. The sharp words thrown by coach Dani will not make him give up and make it as a spirit. Raka wants to prove herself even though she is not talented she can pursue her dream.

Uncle, do you have any club contacts who are conducting a trial session for player recruitment?

Not waiting long for Raka to get an answer. The uncle he contacted immediately sent out a list that Raka was looking for. There are 20 clubs that conduct trial sessions ranging from league 1 to league 3 clubs in the list. He began to sort the schedule that will be done 20 clubs. Of course not everything can be done by Raka so he needs to wisely compile his 10 priority list. A little hope in the eyes of one of the clubs list can see its potential.

Day after day the trial session went on and Raka followed almost her entire list of priorities. The little hope he had from the beginning became even more numb to despair. He thought that although Persija Jakarta was not impressed by his ability there would be some clubs interested but the reality was often too cruel.

"Sorry our club won't sign you"

Once again Raka failed in following the trial session she participated in. This is the ninth trial that Raka has followed.  There was only one left on his priority list which was the Maung Raja. League 3 football club which is one city with Persija Jakarta.

It should work, right? this is league 3

The next day he arrived at the field where the Maung Raja trial was conducted. Although only 3 league clubs but the number of registrants is quite a lot. People began to gather after the whistle was blown by a man. Next to him were 2 men who looked like his assistants.

"Introduce my name Handoko, I don't want to waste a long time. I will assess your performance by doing a 90-minute match. The two men next to me will be the interim coaches for the two teams."

Soon a yellow vest was handed out to eleven players by one of his assistants. Raka was the one wearing the vest.

Raka's position is a striker when in E

Persija Jakarta's. Lucky enough for him in this trial he occupied the striker position. The match started after Handoko blew her whistle.

3 - 0

A provisional score of 75 minutes has passed. The team without the vest is the one who leads the game. Already from the beginning of the game the yellow vest team has been on tap. Conditions became worse after the opposing team's Beto striker scored in the 20th minute. The coordination of the yellow vest team became increasingly messy which made it easier for Beto to do a hat trick. Even Handoko who played as a referee seemed quite satisfied with Beto's performance.

Raka became increasingly anxious. He decided to retreat to help the defense. It was a crucial time. Corner kick at the opposing team. Fortunately the header made Beto over the crossbar.

In the 86th minute, the yellow vest team got a good chance. Somehow the man numbered 13 back managed to do the intercept. Soon the ball reached Raka's feet. He also dribbled the ball towards the opponent's goal. Raka was not a high-speed player so the opposing player immediately chased after him.

Can't be like this they're too fast, I can't print them.

When Raka began to worry, he immediately caught a glimpse of the number 13 player overtaking him from the right side. Raka also does tricks like breaking into the left. The two opposing defenders were inclined to shift to the place of Raka so that the side next to the opponent became empty. Without seeing it, Raka passed to the empty position which was warmly welcomed by the number 13 player who scored easily.

The goal was also the end of the trial session. Handoko raised her eyebrows while stroking her thin beard before noting something in her notebook and blowing her whistle.

"Well I'll read you some names that passed our trial session"

Some sort of reaction occurs when Handoko reads the names one by one. Some are happy and of course many sigh with disappointment. Beto who scored a hat trick of course escaped. The man numbered 13 backs also escaped, his name is Anton.

Raka became calm despite disappointing when not passing the trial there was nothing she could do. When he thought that he had failed, Handoko's voice was heard

"and lastly, Raka"