Dream : Legend Maker
Exams
WARNING: Any form of name, place, background is fiction
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raka was currently lying in a dorm room. His fingers were busy touching the screen of the phone he was staring at.
He was replying to a message from his father.
“Sorry son, I have an urgent situation in the company that cannot be delayed. Approximately July 11th can only arrive in Indonesia.”
“Group matches have ended on 10th. I will try hard to reach the semi-finals
when so.”
“Work hard son, don't make me watch a game that no son haha”
Raka closed her phone and looked at the ceiling of the room. Even though he said he would work hard sometimes the results are not determined by hard work alone.
The two remaining games are against Myanmar and Vietnam who are famous for their strength. Vietnam is ranked first in Southeast Asia and Myanmar is ranked third.
Now he could only close his eyes and rest. May the goddess of luck bless them in running the match tomorrow.
July 5 at Maguwoharjo Stadium
Currently both sides were lined up in the hallway. They are preparing to enter the field.
Raka who was in the front row held onto his left arm. He felt a heavy weight on his left arm.
The load came from the armband that encircled his left arm. Two matches have been played but Raka is still not used to wearing the captain's armband.
Coach Indra gives full confidence in him to serve as captain, but where there is confidence there is a responsibility that must be borne.
A hand wearing gloves patted his shoulder. Raka turned and saw Ricky grinning.
"Weight right? That's the reason I took that position off. Get used to it, we're counting on you captain."
Raka simply nodded before focusing on looking ahead. Although Ricky's words are no encouraging words he knows that it's Ricky's way of calming his nervousness.
The referee immediately gave a warning for them to walk in. They slowly walked closer to the field.
The cheers from the supporters present in the stands sounded clearer than in the waiting hallway.
In other days they were opponents because of the difference the clubs supported but today they are united to support their national team pride.
Kick off was first performed by Myanmar.
It only took five minutes since the game began, the Indonesian goal almost broken by Myanmar players.
A sudden long-range kick from the Myanmar midfielder shot quickly into the goal guarded by Ricky. The very dangerous moment was saved because of Ricky's good reflexes.
Ricky who was lying on the grass immediately got up and roared so as not to loosen the defense.
Indonesia has not been able to relax because Myanmar get a corner kick. The hull bait is immediately created when the referee sounds the whistle.
Indonesian and Myanmar players do a physical fight to fight for the position of falling balls. The ball that soared successfully in the header Tegar who won the air duel away from the penalty zone.
Now that the ball was at Aldo's feet, he kicked the ball further and further forward. Because the ball was leaning towards the right side Nando tried to chase.
Unfortunately, Nando's speed is still slower than the ball. The ball has gone out of the field resulting in a throw in for Myanmar.
Although it failed to provide a counter-attack but at least now the Indonesian defense has been fully turned on. All the players are focused on the game and not giving Myanmar one more chance.
Pressure continued to be exerted by Myanmar players throughout the forty minutes of play. Throughout the forty minutes, all Indonesian players worked hard to defend.
In attack only leaves Aji and Raymond. They even had to retreat backwards a bit so the midfielder could channel the ball to them.
There was one chance for Indonesia to counter-attack but the direction of Aji's kick was too clear for the Myanmar goalkeeper. The ball eventually landed into the goalkeeper's arms easily.
The shell of the turtle that was maintained for forty minutes finally cracked. Through a breakthrough pass from the right side of their striker named Kyaw Aung managed to convert the pass into a goal.
It is clear that the expression of Indonesian players is disappointed when they come out of the field. Coach Indra waited on the side of the field and gave a shoulder pat that they had worked hard.
The dressing room there was only silence and the sound of tired players breathing.
This is the responsibility that must be borne when wearing the captain's armband. A captain should be able to encourage and restore the spirit of his comrades.
Raka stood up and said encouraging words that they still had a chance but her efforts ended in vain. No one responded until coach Indra entered the dressing room.
Coach Indra only instructed that in the second half they were fully focused with a quick counter-attack. He also replaced Raymond with Edgar.
They will use a 5-4-1 formation with three centre backs. Soon the break was over and the second round match was about to begin.
Since the second half began, Myanmar has continued to carry out attacks. There is no saggy word in their efforts to break down the defense of Indonesia.
With a combination of three centre-back Myanmar strikers successfully frozen. The role of Hardcore and Bagus is still guarding the zoning but Edgar who entered in the second half focused on guarding the target man.
The attacks from Myanmar did not become too threatening. To think that the defense is completely safe is a mistake.
Because through a long-range kick Myanmar managed to widen the distance. The score is now 2 - 0 to fully step on Indonesia.
All the players in the field have lost their spirit. Even the voice of the supporters also shrank completely pessimistic with the course of the match today.
As captain Raka wants to do something but he doesn't know what to do. He has tried to encourage his colleagues in the dressing room but the result is a big zero.
The match was soon resumed.
Throughout the game Indonesia often lost control of the ball. Raka with all efforts running back and forth from front to back. He even did some of Aldo's roles.
At first no one noticed it but minute by minute they started to see Raka's hard work. Nando who was on the right side helped the defense become the first to realize.
He felt ashamed that he had completely given up when his comrades were still struggling. He became more active in his defense.
From Nando to Brian and from Brian to the others Raka's spirit is channeled. Through the fighting spirit that Raka showed one by one they immediately rose up in spirit again.
In the 75th minute Indonesia got a chance to counterattack. The Myanmar feed was successfully intercepted by Aldo. The ball is then on the pass to Raka who has run forward.
From the side Nando ran with all his might to catch up to the front.
There are currently only two defenders from Myanmar. The two of them guard the zoning completely covering up the opportunity to bait Aji.
Raka's wide vision immediately saw Nando who managed to catch up, without hesitation the ball was passed to him.
Three against two. Now the guard of Myanmar defenders is divided. Nando dribbled closer to the middle of the field.
One of the defenders immediately blocked Nando's path. Nando pointed his body to the left and the Myanmar player immediately blocked his path but in fact Nando's leg had been pointed to the right.
The defender succeeded in playing Nando with body feint techniques. He tried to catch up to Nando but was unsuccessful because it was too slow.
The remaining defenders immediately leave Aji and approach Nando. The defender is quite smart because he also screened the bait line to Aji.
One thing he forgot was Raka's presence. Raka did not stop after giving the bait but continued to run forward. Nando also realized this and immediately lured to the side.
The ball was well received by Raka. Kicks shot swiftly entering the Myanmar goal.
A goal.
The score is now 2 - 1. Indonesia succeeded in breaking down.
Indonesian players in the field immediately swarmed Raka before she performed the celebration.
"Good job, captain."
Now the lost spirit has been fully restored.
His words may not be able to channel the spirit but he can channel the spirit through the action on the field.
The tough test as captain has been successfully passed.