THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
Preparation for the Next Match
The next day Zachary woke up at 8:00am and continued his post-match recovery routine. After sleeping like a baby all night, his body began to recover from the exhaustion of the match. But, he knew he had to try harder to return to his peak condition in just two days.
So, he decided to use every minute before the game against Aalesunds to get back to his best. She followed Coach Johansen's instructions and began her day with another light yoga routine to stretch her aching muscles. He didn't try anything too complicated. He limits himself to poses such as the downward-facing dog posture that stimulates blood circulation, especially in the lower limbs.
After completing her yoga practice, she drank sour cherry juice and chocolate milk to restore glycogen in her body. It was to reduce the oxidative stress he had accumulated from the previous day's match, stimulating muscle repair and recovery.
He always understood that without proper nutrition, all the recovery techniques in the world would not be effective. So, since her academy days, she has always eaten the right foods along with weekly doses of physical conditioning potions from the system to recover faster from fatigue.
Since joining the ranks of professional footballers, he has become increasingly strict with himself. He intends to continue the same habit to prevent himself from suffering from chronic fatigue later in life. So, he didn't just stop drinking juice and chocolate milk for breakfast. He also feasted on vegetables, meat, and bread. After that, he soaked in a cold bath for fifteen minutes and took a bath before leaving for Lerkendal.
He arrived there around 09:00 WIB. At that time, some senior players like Mikael Dorsin and Borek Dockal, who had not taken part in the previous day's match, were already on the pitch to work the ball. Zachary greets them before proceeding to the gym.
He was surprised to find Mr. Rolf Aas, a fitness trainer, already in the gym, was instructing some players. Zachary knows he is guiding them in their post-match recovery. The likes of Ole Selnaes, Brede Moe, and Tore Reginiussen all carefully apply pressure to their thighs and calves using foam rollers on the floor.
"Zachary, you are here" said Mr. Rolf Aas, smilingly looking at him at the door. "Good morning! Why not join us in our session? You know by exercising, the more, the merrier."
"Good morning, coach," Zachary first greeted the coach before adding: "Of course, I will join. Let me change my training gear first." He walked into the dressing room to change clothes.
Mr. Rolf Aas is one of the most skilled fitness trainers in Norway. Zachary could not resist the opportunity to participate in an active post-match recovery session directed by him. So, she spent the next hour at one of Rosenborg's gyms training her body on a foam roller. At the end of the session, he felt more relaxed and refreshed. The rolling of the foam has helped ease the strain on his aching muscles and boosted their recovery from match fatigue faster.
Zachary thanked the fitness trainer and said goodbye before leaving the gym for another cold shower. He intends to recover faster than anyone else on the team.
He didn't want to waste a second. So, she took a break just an hour after attending that morning's match video review meeting before undergoing another active recovery routine at the gym.
By the time the team training session started that night, he was full of energy. He felt like he could play another game soon. A gentle smile graced her face as she walked to the training ground that night. His efforts have borne fruit. He almost recovered completely.
The team training session starts at 15:30 WIB. Zachary was in high gear and gave everything he had. He breezed through agility, running as if his life depended on him—while the others groaned and groaned, still sick from the activities of the previous day. Only the players left on the bench can match his speed during training.
He did not care in the slightest about some unfriendly gazes from his teammates that suggested that he retreat because he made everyone look like slackers. That was his intention. He competes for a position in the starting line-up and must outperform his team-mates at all costs.
As the practice progressed, Zachary grew more confident with his stamina. He realized that the little bit of post-match fatigue that was still on and propping him up early in the session had disappeared. So, he increased his intensity—he approached training until the coach called him and asked him to slow down a bit.
He had to explain that he had recovered, for them to let him. But it was on condition that he see a team doctor before the end of the day. Zachary, however, is not the slightest bit afraid of being subjected to a physical fitness health check once again. He knew his body well and was sure there would be no problems with the medical. So, he maintained a high level of intensity until the training ended that day.
The next day, which was Friday, he went through the same routine. He got up early, did yoga, did stretches using a foam roller, and underwent team training prepared by the coach to perfect the game plan for the match against Aalesund the following day.
Throughout the day, he was in a state of intense focus. He followed instructions from the coaching staff to the letter throughout all sessions. When they say run, he runs, and when they shout pass, he passes. The hours passed quickly, and before he knew it, it was already night.
It was finally time for Coach Johansen to announce the squad for the next day. Zachary walked into the tactics room after taking a shower. He sat in the very back seat of the room and quietly waited for the coach to start his speech.
"Good night to all of you" Coach Johansen told the players after they all finished sitting in Rosenborg's tactics room.
"Good night, coach," replied all the players, more or less in unison. They stopped chatting and their attention was focused only on the coach.
Coach Johansen nodded. "Tomorrow, we play Aalesunds FK away at the Color Line Stadium" he said. "It's a tough game, and we have to give more than a hundred per cent if we want to get maximum points."
“You all know that we cannot lose again in Tippeligaen. So we have to play as a team and win this game. Otherwise, our chances of fighting for the league title this season will be greatly reduced. Together, guys?'" He shouted, sweeping his gaze across the players.
"Yes, coach."
"Let me ask you one thing" continued the coach, a gentle smile adorning his face. "Who is the strongest, physically, here?"
All players, including Zachary, remained silent, under the impression that the coach had asked rhetorical questions.
Waves of light laughter crossed the room as several players raised their hands. Coach Johansen pointed to one of them. "Tore, I also believe you are quite strong," he said. "It's a shame you're still in suspension and can't be part of tomorrow's game." The coach breathed. "But please come here for a moment. Let's do this so quickly that we can get back to planning the game."
The captain walked to the front of the tactics room confidently— amidst cheers and whistles from his team-mates.
"We have twelve pencils in this box" said Coach Johansen, lifting up the pencils and showing them to his players. "Tear, take the first pencil and break it in half. Come on, show me the power of your grasp." He instructed, clenching his fists as if to comfort Tore.
Tore Reginiussen, of course, followed the coach's instructions. He picked up a pencil and split it in half as his teammates cheered him up jokingly.
"Okay, I know you're the one, Tore." Coach Johansen smiled, patting the captain on the back. "Now, please take these eleven pencils and try to break them, like the first one." He said, handing me a set of pencils.
Zachary smiled, looking away when he saw Tore Reginiussen take a pencil from the coach and use all his strength, trying to destroy it. However, as expected, his efforts were in vain. His pencil remained intact, no matter how he tried.
"The results are clear to all of you, I believe," Coach Johansen said, gesturing for Tore to return to his seat. "If we play as individuals, we will be as weak as the first pencil. The opponent will easily break us. But, if we play as a team of eleven, nothing can destroy us." He held out eleven pencils for everyone to see.
"Nobody can destroy us if we play as a team. Strength comes from numbers. Each player brings a unique aspect to the game, and together the team is like a well-oiled machine featuring phenomenal football. Are we together, man?"
"Yes, coach," all the players answered in unison. Zachary could see the atmosphere in the tactics room had gone from serious to casual after the coach's pencil talk.
"OK, good," said the coach. "I want us to bring that spirit to the Color Line Stadium tomorrow. I guarantee you guys that we will go with three points from that game if we are right for it. Are we on the same page, guys?"
"Yes, coach."
"okay." Coach Johansen nodded. "Now get into the squad. Although Aalesunds is playing in a 4-4-2 formation, we will still use our standard 4-3-3 to face them tomorrow." He pointed to the large screen in front of the room where the formation had just appeared.
"We will play attacking football and focus on scoring goals throughout the game. Remember, as we said earlier today, attacking is the best defense. So, I hope everyone's nimble on the field..."
Zachary listened carefully for the next few minutes as Coach Johansen explained the game's plans and tactics. Although he had already heard it during the training session that night, Zachary listened closely to catch every new point that came up. Seconds and minutes passed quickly, and soon, the coach began to announce the squad.
"For the starting eleven," said the coach as he pointed to the screen. “We have Lund Hansen as the goalkeeper. Mikael Dorsin, Verner Ronning, Stefan Strandberg and Cristian Gamboa are the back four. Mike Jensen, Mix Diskerud, and Jonas Svensson are the three midfielders. And lastly, we have Tobias Mikkelsen, Tarik Elyounoussi, and Borek Dockal as the three attackers."
"On the bench" continued the coach. "We have Daniel rlund, Brede Moe, Jon Inge Hoiland, Ole Selnaes, Zachary Bemba, Daniel Berntsen, and John Chibuike. That's all for the squad."
Zachary smiled hearing his name among the squad members. He was not at all bothered by the fact that he was just a substitute. There is nothing to worry about because the coach has promised to give him playing time during the game.
"A question?" Coach Johansen asked, looking around after he finished announcing the squad.
All players, including Zachary, remained silent.
"Alright, then," said the coach, applauding. "Let's call it a day then ..."
"Please wait a minute" Trond Henriksen, the assistant head coach, cut him off before he could chase the players away.
"Yes, Trond," said Coach Johansen.
"I want to remind all the players here that the journey to lesund is quite long" Trond Henriksen said in a formal tone. “We take about six hours drive from Lerkendal to Color Line Stadium. So, we will depart by bus from the Lerkendal parking lot at 08.30 exactly. Please arrive early and do not be late. Thank you." Thank you."
"Thank you, Trond," Coach Johansen said with a smile. "I guess that marks the end of today's session. If you are not in the squad, keep working hard and don't give up. Your Turn will come sooner than you expect if you stay true to your goals. For the players in the squad, sleep well, and see you tomorrow. And, of course, don't be late." He clapped his hands to emphasize.
**** ****