Football System: Classic Number 10
Episode 18: Second Round

To be honest, against a team that plays in I-Youth it is not easy. Already 65 minutes more running time, our team is still difficult to dismantle the defense created by team A which contains many experienced players in I-Youth.

Damn again, we seem to be being played by all of them. After entering the second half, team A instead played more short passes and repeated them just like that, like not intending to attack. And it's been 15 minutes or so they've done it over and over again.

I kept watching everyone on the pitch, not doing rash things while waiting for them to make mistakes. But it doesn't seem like many are like me, including Axel Raihan.

He continued to run around, chasing the ball that continued to be flowed by team A without stopping. In fact, it is not uncommon for team A to mock what Axel did as a futile action, but Axel just kept quiet and continued to pursue it.

"It's time!" The enemy midfielder suddenly changed the style of play, he immediately gave a direct pass to the front, there was a full-back wide and ready to receive the ball.

I realized too late, they were trying to make a quick attack. I tried to chase the full-back who was moving wide to stop his pace, but he made it through me, yes I was too easy to go through because I did not have much experience on the pitch.

The ball was still carried to the side of the field, then he gave a pass to the middle with a very good Cutback technique that tricked the defenders of our team. In the end the player numbered 9 enemy back finish the task easily, he just did a tap-in to enter the cutback pass and make the score turn into 3-0.

"It's easy today!" said the number 9 player once scored his third goal.

I was annoyed by his words, but there seemed to be someone even more upset than me. Axel I saw running very fast towards the player numbered 9 back was standing. By looking at the look on his face I could already guess what he was going to do, and somehow my body seemed to move on its own and immediately ran against Axel's pace. In the end I was hit by Axel and fell hard enough to the ground, I even lost consciousness for a few seconds.

I faintly heard Derry's voice calling out to me, I slowly opened my eyes and faintly saw Derry and the others rushing towards me.

"Oi buddy are you okay?" Derry immediately asked my situation but in his own way, he slapped me as if it was his way of knowing my situation, once he finished he immediately nodded his head like a doctor who already knew what the disease of his patients.

I slowly tried to stand up, feeling the strength of my feet trying to grip the earth once again. "I'm fine" I said as I gave a thumbs up at them all. It still hurts, but I have to cover it up for today.

I walked a little limping at first, but over time it started to come back as usual even though there was a little pain. I walked past the silent Axel Raihan, I just told him not to apologize to me but he didn't seem to accept that.

"I don't accept it! I can't take it! Tell me, what should I do to apologize to you" Axel was getting stubborn, but I liked his nature a little.

With a smile on my face I thought of a plan to score this time, I immediately told him the terms. "Then you have to run this time, I will continue to feed you" I said, this time I was also a little excited.

"Alright I understand" Axel said and he returned to his current position.

We started again from the beginning, this time we were more confident to do a short pass game, although we were also pressed very tight. But I try to keep the ball from being taken by the enemy team, I work with Zaki in the middle of the field to open space.

Although it failed to be a goal but it seems my efforts this time was judged quite well by Coach Giovanni. I started his temper, if he showed a serious face but his eyebrows slightly raised up, it was a sign he was happy with the performance of his men on the field.

The one who took the corner was Zaki. Zaki saw for a moment the situation in the penalty box, maybe he did not think it was possible in the end he gave a short pass to me.

I held it with my inner legs, at first glance I could see that Axel was in the best position right now, and automatically my feet immediately lifted and flew the ball towards Axel who was near the mouth of the goal.

The aerial duel was already unavoidable, but Axel was not daunted to face the defenders of the enemy team who had larger bodies than him. Axel jumped high once and headed the ball, defeating the defenders of the enemy team. The ball is pointed sharply towards the goal, and the goalkeeper also cannot anticipate it and make it a beautiful goal.

"Yes that's a goal!" Axel jumped to celebrate the goal, I from afar just nodded slowly while smiling a little because I managed to give a good pass for our forward.

Then Axel Raihan walked towards me, he looked at me for quite a while before he said. "Good assist!" He patted me on the shoulder and walked right past me. Just like that, I'm already very happy. This feeling made me soar high above the clouds like a kite.

The game continues to run at a very high tempo, this minigame match is like the final peak match for me. High tempo, several times there are violations, even almost there is a fight if not stopped by the coach who judges on the sidelines.

Some spectators who watched the minigame also applauded after the game was over, the score was 5-2 for the enemy team and we lost a landslide.

In this match, Axel managed to record two goals, one with an assist from me and another from Zaki's breakthrough pass.

Today was really tiring, it felt like the entire bone that was in my body wanted to immediately burst out due to today's burden. I realized how terrible this team is with just the first training today, I don't know what will happen with me but whatever the problem is I will continue to stay until the end.

Today's training was covered with a few words by Coach Giovanni, this time he had a serious face but his eyebrows moved left and right quite often. That's a sign he's trying to figure out which players will soon skyrocket in the near future.

"Today's inaugural training is over, remember! Each of your training will be judged by us and we can decide whether you are ready to play for team A at I-Youth, or play in a local league. So take all your abilities out or you'll have to get out of here with a lifetime of regret" A fiery speech by the coach, but what he said was the truth.

I still have a little doubt in my heart, I often ask if I deserve to play here? Or am I good enough to be here? That's why I continue to hone myself so that I can answer all those questions steadily someday.

After that I went home, took a shower and had dinner with my sister and mother. As always, Keisha was always against me and didn't like it when I played ball, but I actually knew that she was always looking out for me and always worried about me.

"See ma! Brother Izal's legs until bruised like this, so Kei does not want to play ball ma" said Keisha while smearing bruises on my feet with massage oil, even though he was angry, he still paid attention to me until he wanted to massage my sick foot. For the high voice that was like Zeus's lightning during that scorching day, I just had to cover it with earphones while listening to my favorite music.