THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
Important Day III

"Are you going back to the field as well?" Luyinda asked as soon as Zachary approached her. He just finished his chat with another coach. They stood on the sidelines, waiting to re-enter the field.

"What do you think?" Zachary asked, the corner of his mouth raised.

"Damn," said Luyinda. "I can't believe I stuck with you today all day long" he snorted.

"Why did you isolate me during the game?" Zachary asked directly, locking eyes with the defensive midfielder. He wanted to resolve the conflict between them before they rejoined the match.

"Gee!" Surprise flashed on Luyinda's face. It seems he was not expecting that question.

"I asked," Zachary emphasized. "Why didn't you pass on to me during the first half? We're in a test match, not backyard football."

"You didn't create space to receive the pass," Luyinda stuttered, taking a few steps from Zachary.

"Seriously. What about the time when I was on your left with no green players around?" Zachary showing. He had created space for himself to receive the ball, but Luyinda always chose the long ball which made the red team lose possession.

"OK okay.

Stop bothering me." Luyinda babbling. He looked around to see if any coaches were looking at them. He gives up when he realizes that Coach Damata's attention is on them.

"I'll give it to you when we get back. But this doesn't mean we're friends. Good Lord! I hope it's the last time we play on the same team." He whispered.

[What have I ever done to him?] Zachary wondered but said, "As far as you are. As long as you pass the ball to me, everything will be fine. Remember, we only have less than twenty minutes to turn things around." He emphasizes.

Luyinda did not answer. He continued to quietly observe the match.

Zachary doesn't bother him anymore. The main goal is to make the scouts seem not to be friends.

A minute later, Coach Mande blew the whistle and invited them back onto the field.

"Luyinda," call Zachary to number 6. "Don't forget your promise" he said before running confidently onto the pitch. Luyinda nodded and followed.

"You're back," Kasongo ran towards her excitedly as soon as he positioned himself in the center of the circle.

"Kasongo," Zachary clenched his fists with the short winger. "We have to win this game to have a chance to impress the scouts. So, sharp. Go back to your number and wait for my bait."

"OK," Kasongo replied and ran back to the right wing. He could see the seriousness on Zachary's face and just did as he was told.

Zachary began to observe the position of each player on the field. The body language of the opponent and his teammates was captured in great detail in his mind.

Samuel Baraka, the goalkeeper of the red team, still picked up the ball to restart the game. The ball was out after Kayembe failed to fire a shot on goal.

In the other half, he saw the face of Emanuel Luboya, his team's attacker, still gleaming thirst for the game. He eagerly waited for the ball deep inside the green team area. The striker has not given up. Zakaria was relieved.

For the first time that day, he noted there was a gap in the opponent's formation. He can see a lot of space between the midfield of a green team and a defender that his team can potentially exploit. His A+ spatial awareness has already done wonders.

[The opponent has relaxed. Let's play.] Zachary smiles. He turned around to receive the ball from the goalkeeper.

Baraka quickly took the goal kick. He shuffled the ball towards Beni Badibanga deep in the half of the green team's pitch. Nike Kabanga, the number-5 of the green team, jumped high in the air and headed the ball back to the other half of the field. He won a header against Beni, number-9 in red, once again.

Luyinda controlled the ball in her chest and directly passed it to Zachary without even looking up.

Zachary heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the ball rolling towards him. He was more confident as the isolation from his team-mates seemed to have ended.

He controlled the ball beautifully with his left foot before turning around and running towards the green half of the team. He has already lost Francis Wagaluka, the player responsible for keeping him. He has a few yards to run free with the ball because nobody is close to him.

Zachary ran at his fastest speed and penetrated deep into the opponent's half in just seconds. As he moved with the ball, he looked towards Emanuel Luboya, the centre-forward, running to the right side of the opponent's 18-yard box. He seemed to attract the attention of the green-clad defenders away from Beni on the right.

On a closer look, Zachary saw two shadows coming out of the assailant's body. One kept running to the right side of the goal while the second headed to the left. Zakaria.

However, he had no time to think about it so he quickly shuffled the ball towards the second shadow rushing out of the tall striker towards the left. It was a space overlooked by the green-clad centre-back. Both Nike Kabanga and Samba Farouk marked Beni Babidanga strictly on the right side.

Zachary hopes the attackers will interpret his intentions and take advantage of his pass. He knows this has a small chance of happening because the strikers have never trained or played with him until that day.

But surprisingly, he realized that Emanuel Luboya had rerouted his running route when Zachary released a circular pass through the defenders. Luboya ran vigorously towards the left side of the goal. He followed the exact trail of shadows that appeared out of his body.

The striker collected a pass in the box and fired a shot that was brilliantly blocked by the foot of Jackson Lunanga, the goalkeeper. The referee signals the corner flag.

The red team had their first attempt at goal for the day. Luboya held his head between his hands in regret for missing the chance to score.

[The sky that came out of Luboya must have been a manifestation of Zinedine-Visual-Juju.] Zachary speculates.

"That's a good ball" Lunanga commented as Zachary arrived in the green team's penalty box to strike a corner ball.

"Don't worry about missed opportunities" Zachary consoled the striker. "I'll send you more balls like that. Make sure you score." He smiled, patting the tall man on the back.

"Say you won't get another chance to do anything. I'll mark you." A new voice sounded from behind them. Zachary turned around only to find Mangala standing behind him, with his hands akimbo. The shady smile on her pure face made her seem too arrogant, like a Casanova.

Zachary frowned but ignored the skinny boy. He didn't want conflict with anyone else that day. He's learned his lesson. The corner kick Kasongo was about to do was the only one on his mind.

A ball-shaped shadow came floating towards the box from the corner flag. It was gored by a different shadow from one of the opposing players and split into three balls. Two of them slide to the right and left sides, outside the box. However, the latter went right through the middle.

[Other Zinedine-Visual-Juju vision.]

Zachary is thrilled when he realizes that Kasongo is finally taking a corner.

He quietly began to move away from Mangala who marked him. When the ball was about to reach its highest point, he ran out of the box eighteen yards. He positioned himself in front of the bow and waited for the ball. He has placed his chances on the shadow of a ball that passes through the middle in Zinedine-Visual-Juju.

Mangala first frowned when she saw his actions. However, he only smiled and ignored Zachary after seeing the ball drifting from a corner. Kasongo took an improper corner which Wagaluka easily gore at.

Zachary, placed just outside the box, saw the ball flying towards him.

[BINGO!] Her thought. He has won a bet on where the ball will be heading.

He focused on the incoming ball and fired a shot missile at the goal. He has caught the ball in volleyball with the outside of his boots.

"BOMBS!"

The ball surprised everyone, including the goalkeeper. A long-range shot shot shot shot into the top right corner of the goalpost, unobstructed. 2:1a. The red team has pulled one back.

The tables started to turn.

Zachary didn't celebrate. He ran and took the ball from the green team's net and returned it to the centre circle of the pitch. Only fifteen minutes remained until the end of the match. He could not take the time for a wasted celebration. He will lose a lot if he does not win this game.

Coach Mande blew the whistle and restarted the game.

Over the next five minutes, the red team dominated the game. The return of Zachary and Luyinda had increased their strength.

Both handle, intercept and release passes to the striker every few minutes. They dominate the midfield.

Mangala tried to tag Zachary but failed. He is an agile player, used to running and dribbling past defenders. He could not manage a physical confrontation in midfield with the tall and muscular Zachary. So, he returned to the number-9 position, defeated after a few minutes of trying.

On the other hand, Zachary continued to see shadows flashed across the field occasionally. Some come from the ball and others from the player. He had confirmed that it was a manifestation of some sort of predictive ability given by Zinedine-Visual-Juju. They increase his spatial awareness every time he passes and intercepts the ball during a game. They have helped him track the trajectory of the ball when he scores.

However, there is also the possibility of making a wrong prediction. Zachary learned of this after handing out a pass to Kasongo by running into the box. The original Kasongo headed in a different direction and followed the route taken by one of his shadows. This is the case even after taking into account the position of the opponent and his teammates.

In the twentieth minute of the second half, the green team managed to find their rhythm once again. Kayembe, the winger, sent a tempting cross into the red team's penalty box.

The cross was found by Mangala, who controlled it well and directed the ball into the bottom right corner. Samuel Baraka, the goalkeeper, was alert and made a brilliant save. Coach Mande blew his whistle and gave the green team a corner kick.

Mangala and his team-mates have a chance to extend the lead. All the red team players, including the striker, rushed back to their boxes to defend. The green team defenders followed them.

Zachary observed their actions before summoning Kasongo. He whispered some instructions in his ear before telling him to return to the edge of the box.

The goalkeeper, Baraka, kept the incoming corner ball flat. He punched him to the sidelines where Zachary had been waiting.

Zachary managed to predict where the ball would end up and move into position first. He controlled the ball beautifully and ran towards the half-opponent at his best speed. Francis Wagaluka came to intercept with a sliding tackle. Zachary passed him and passed the ball to Kasongo, running in harmony with him in the middle of the pitch.

The counterattack is underway.

Edo Kayembe used his swift pace to chase after Kasongo and put on his shirt. He intended to commit a professional offense and stop the counterattack. However, Kasongo did not falter. He remained standing firm until he hit the ball towards Zachary, already inside the opponents half and close to the touchline. There is no player between him and the goalkeeper. All the defenders are still running from the opposing side.

Coach Mande, the referee, gave the game an advantage even after Kayembe pulled Kasongo to the ground.

Zachary produced a stunning solo run from the middle of the field to the penalty area. He hit the ball into the bottom left corner, giving Jackson Lunanga, the goalkeeper, no chance. Goal.

With eight minutes remaining, the score was a draw at 2:2.

**** ****

"You're right, grandfather," Kristin began. "Zachary is everywhere now. His ability to control the game and pass the ball is unmatched. Every scout would want a playmaker like him." Kristin commented sadly. He sighed while watching the red-clothed players celebrate quickly and rush back to their half. They seemed excited to continue the match.

Grandfather remained silent with his eyes fixed on the field.

"Grandfather," Kristin hummed, patting the old man on the shoulder with her slender fingers.

"I hear you, Kristin," replied the old man. He turned to face his grandson.

"We have to catch him at all costs" he said. "I'll talk to the coach who is my friend. Don't worry."

"Why does your file say that he is more of a slow-moving player who is good at doing the dirty work of the team," asked Kristin, frowning. He opened the file player for the umpteenth time that day.

"You asked me! Who should I ask?" The grandfather spread his hand.

**** ****