<div class="chapter-content">
 <div align="center">
 <script src="/d/js/ad/page_01.js"></script>
 </div>
 A few minutes to 9:00 am.
 Coach Mande looked at his watch before signaling for the teams to take their positions. All the players on the pitch, including Zachary, were waiting for his whistle to kick-off the game. It was the moment of truth that would define their destinies. Everyone was tense.
 Coach Mande had chosen the red-team to kick off the game. Emanuel Luboya and Beni Badibanga were already standing in the center circle next to the ball.
 Most of the scouts had already begun abandoning their seats in the stands. They had started moving closer to the touchline to get a better view of the proceedings. Most were adjusting their cameras to face the field to capture the moments of the match.
 Coach Mande looked at his watch again before looking towards Damata on the sideline. The latter nodded.
 *FWEEEEEEE!*
 Kick-off!
 Emanuel passed the ball to Beni Badibanga and rushed forward into the other half without looking back.
 "Beni, pass here," Zachary called out to Beni after seeing him looking around for a teammate to pass the ball. He was unmarked and ready to receive the ball. The latter ignored him and kicked it towards Tony Majembe in the left-wing.
 That was when Edo Kayembe, the right-winger of the team in green bibs, came sliding in with a tackle. He won the ball fair and square and instantly hammered it to Wagaluka Francis in the midfield.
 Wagaluka beautifully controlled the ball and skipped past Beni who was already tightly marking him.
 He looked up and kicked the ball high, sending a long pass towards the swift Stephen Mangala who was rushing towards the box in the red team's half.
 Zachary and his teammates did not even react as Mangala received the ball just outside the 18-yard-box. Only Fredric Luamba stood between him and the goalkeeper.
 Without looking up, he drilled a powerful shot towards the bottom left corner, forcing Samuel Baraka to pull off a brilliant save. The green team had a corner.
 The red team was already under pressure due to Beni Badibanga's poor judgment in the first minute. He had chosen to pass to Tony, who was tightly marked by an opponent, instead of Zachary. As a result, the red team had lost the ball and almost conceded a goal.
 "Beni," Zachary called out to the number-9. "Why did you not pass to me? He intoned as they ran back to their half to defend against the corner.
 "Piss off," the striker scowled. "I'll play my game, and you play yours. Don't get in my way." He added before increasing his pace.
 "Young kids." Zachary sighed.
 The green team took the corner quickly, but nothing came of it.
 For the next ten minutes, the game continued in favor of the green team. The boys in green dominated the midfield and had the majority of the ball possession.
 Both Wagaluka and Paul-José Mpoku had already set Mangala loose three times in the red team's penalty box. Their deadly through balls could have easily turned into goals if not for the brilliant performance of Baraka, the goalkeeper.
 Zachary already had a clear picture of what was wrong with his red team. His high game-intelligence enabled him to deduce that some of the players were choosing to isolate him. They were not giving him any passes. Since he was the midfielder responsible for building up all the attacks, his teammates' behavior was proving costly.
 In his previous life, he had faced similar isolation during matches in soccer trials. Such matches were extremely competitive making it difficult for players to show off their skills. The main reason for this was the fact that players on the same team were still competing with each other. They all sought the attention of the scouts or coaches in attendance. Players would be less inclined to pass the ball to teammates who they viewed as competition. But what surprised Zachary was the appearance of such behavior in trials involving teenagers.
 [Where is the spirit of sportsmanship?] He wondered.
 His red team was already facing another attacking threat from Mangala and his green team. Zachary had resolved to move further back and counter the pressure mounted by the opponents.
 But in the twenty-fifth minute of the first half, Chris Luyinda made a rough challenge on the ferocious Edo Kayembe at the right side out of the penalty box. Coach Mande blew his whistle for a foul and awarded a free-kick to the green team.
 "What are all of you doing over there?" Luyinda shouted at his teammates. "Put up a wall and defend."
 The red team players did not mind Luyinda's rudeness and quietly put up a wall to defend the free-kick. Even Zachary, who had been denied any passes since the match began, joined the wall of players.
 Coach Mande blew the whistle, signaling the green team to take the free-kick.
 Edo Kayembe, the number-7, sent a superb cross into the box where Mangala was lurking. The boy prodigy latched on to it, and from around the penalty spot, he planted a header past Samuel Baraka. The ball bounced off the bottom of the left post before sliding into the back of the net. Mangala had displayed his eye for the goal.
 The score was 1:0.
 Zachary stood with his arms akimbo, watching the others. The red players all had dejected expressions with their shoulders slumped. He saw some of the scouts on the sidelines nodding to themselves as they eyed Mangala.
 [So this is how Mangala got to Europe in my previous life.] Zachary sighed. He was sure that the boy would be recruited by one of the academies after the match. He was about to say some encouraging words to his teammates but was interrupted by Chris Luyinda.
 "You useless joke of an attacking midfielder," he intoned, pointing his forefinger at Bemba. "They have taken over the whole midfield! What're you doing?" He queried.
 "Our strikers don't have even a single chance at goal. Why are the coaches not substituting an idiot like you?" He continued.
 "Watch it, man," Zachary intoned, moving closer to face off with Luyinda. "You haven't been passing the ball to me. What do you expect me to do?" He questioned angrily.
 *FWEEEEEE!*
 As their argument was beginning to pick up, Coach Mande blew his whistle.
 "Anything the problem," he asked, running towards them.
 "No." Both Zachary and Luyinda responded at the same time. They jumped away from each other like scared rabbits that had seen a lion.
 "Both of you! Go to the bench and cool down." Coach Mande bellowed, creasing his brows. "Hurry up. We need to give a chance to those who take the trials seriously."
 **** ****
 "One has been substituted," Kristin observed as she placed down her camera. "Are you sure that Zachary is a talent? He has had zero impact on the match, so far!" She frowned.
 "I beg to defer," the old man smiled, sitting back down. Unlike the other scouts who had moved to the tracks, they were still seated within the pavilion.
 "Have you noticed that the other players on his team have been isolating him?" The grandpa asked.
 "What has that got to do with anything?"
 "In trial matches, players will only isolate their teammates in two scenarios," the grandpa opined. "One is when the player is too good and able to overshadow the others and reduce their chances of catching a scout's eye. The other is when the player lacks skills and will waste the team's chances."
 "My dear Kristin," the grandpa smiled. "Under which category do you think Zachary falls?" He asked.
 Kristin couldn't help but raise her camera to observe the player who was ambling dejectedly out of the pitch. He was a bit buff and tall for his age, close to five-nine by her estimations.
 His crew-cut hair that was midnight black matched his dark brown eyes, framed by graceful dark brows. He had prominent cheekbones, a well-defined chin, and a nose that made him slightly handsome. His face was strong and defined, his features molded from granite. Kristin observed that his skin was a lighter shade of chocolate brown. She thought that he would grow up into a handsome man in the future. But could he also grow into a talented player? That was the question that occupied her mind.
 "I can't tell at the moment," she replied. "I will evaluate Zachary's talent only when he performs on the pitch." She added, gently placing down her camera.
 "We won't be able to snatch the Mangala boy from the French clubs," the old man stated. "They have deeper coffers than our tiny Norwegian clubs. So, we should start looking at the players they fail to notice."
 "Like Zachary and Paul?" Kristin queried, opening the file once again.
 "Yes, like them," the old man smiled. "It's good for us that Zachary isn't performing well. Otherwise, he would also be whisked away."
 "You're an evil old man," Kristin jested, smiling.
 "Gotta be to succeed in this business," the grandpa chortled before focusing on the match once again.
 **** ****
 Zachary's moved back to the sidelines with shoulders slumped and his eyes cast down in a mournful gaze. His mouth was set in a semi-pout. He imagined himself bashing the face of Luyinda when he replayed the moment when Coach Mande had sent him off the pitch. He felt distraught. There was nothing left to feel, nothing left to hope for, nothing left but the void that enveloped his mind in swirling blackness. Everything he had worked so hard to achieve was about to go up in smoke.
 He dejectedly sat down on the sidelines.
 [Why did I have to square off with Luyinda on such a day?]
 [Why? Why?]
 Before the match, he thought that he was already in perfect control of his emotions, unlike in his previous life. But he had easily flared up after a slight provocation from Luyinda.
 He heard the sounds of cheering and raised his head only to find that the boy prodigy Mangala had just scored another goal. It was 2:0 just before half time.
 "DING"
 The system interface popped up by its self.
 ****
 G.O.A.T MISSIONS
 #NEW MISSION: Lubumbashi soccer trials (serial missions)
 *Task 2: Help your red team clinch victory over the green team.
 *Task 3: Catch the eye of a soccer academy official or a club scout.
 ----
 *Rewards:
 -&gt;Snooping tool to be unlocked (Will tell you everything about your opponent. Only related to soccer.)
 ----
 *Punishment in case of failure:
 -&gt;The G.O.A.T system will go offline for a year.
 ----
 *Remarks: A G.O.A.T never gives up.
 ****
 [What the F**k!?]
 "How does it expect me to achieve all this when I have already been suspended from the game?"
 Zachary diverted his attention and wallowed in depression until the half-time whistle sounded. He stayed slumped on the sidelines until he was called over by Coach Damata minutes later.
 "How're you feeling?" The coach asked when Zachary arrived by his side.
 "Like I want to dive into the River Congo with a stone tied to my back," Zachary smiled ruefully.
 "Hahaha," Damata laughed, attracting a few gazes from the scouts nearby. "That is so subtle. You should never think like that. There are various paths one can take to achieve something." He advised.
 Zachary nodded. He glanced towards the pitch and noticed that the second half had already started. The score was still 2:0.
 But Zachary was sure that the red team would concede more goals very soon. The boys in green, especially Mangala, Kayembe, and Wagaluka, were too ferocious. They were still pressuring their opponents in red within their half. Their tiki-taka football was too fast for Kasongo and the others to compete.
 "The red team players have lost all motivation," Coach Damata commented nonchalantly. "You and Luyinda are the major cause of this," he added.
 "I'm sorry, coach," Zachary pleaded.
 "You know that temperament is one of the most important attributes of a sportsman. You will get nowhere if you can't rain in your emotions." Damata lectured.
 Zachary waited silently. He noticed that one of the other coaches was also talking to Luyinda.
 [Will they allow us back in?] His mood lifted. He would perform his best even if he was given just some fifteen minutes of match time. He just wanted to leave without regrets.
 The next words of the coach instantly kicked him out of hell into heaven.
 "I'll be giving you one more chance to impress the scouts," Coach Damata smiled. "Due to your previous behavior, many of them will shun you. But you never know. There may be one among them who might like the way you play." He added.
 "Thank you, coach, for the opportunity," he bowed ceremoniously.
 "Talk with Luyinda first. You two are teammates now and also the best midfielders the red team has. If you don't sort out your issues, both of you will never succeed." The coach advised.
 "Okay, Coach," he said meekly. To succeed, he would do anything. Talking to the idiot was just a minor inconvenience compared to losing everything.
 <div align="center">
 <script src="/d/js/ad/page_02.js"></script>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="content">
 Dive into a novel about the rise of a legendary sportsman.
 Follow Zachary Bemba on his journey to become the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) in the soccer world.
 He travels back to a time in his past where opportunity abounds. Access to a system capable of propelling him to greater heights is just the icing on the cake.
 From a nobody born in one of the poorest and most remote places on the planet, he relentlessly pursues his goal of becoming the greatest sportsman the world has ever seen.
 ****
 ----
 G.O.A.T SYSTEM INITIALIZING
 ----
 ACTIVATION SUCCESSFUL
</div>

<div class="content">
 Hammer the new king of Barcelona and exile the Netherlands to show its edge. 
 Lucky cat has turned into a new little demon, whoever is not convinced will be stabbed. 
 My name is Shen Feng. 
 Relationships generally say that I am crazy, and the old iron of my family calls me God. 
 Tailwind is strong, headwind is crazy, my style is impermanent. 
 Difficult situation desperate to die, Kaka Xiaoluo came to the rescue. 
 Conquer Peak Road. 
 The cameo defender is well-known, and he is crazy incarnate as a door god! 
 Shen Feng’s creed: 
 Life and death are bearish, if you don’t agree, just do it. 
 Born fearless, fight to the end. 
 This is a story about hard work and persistence. 
 Only perseverance and redoubled efforts. 
 In order to open a stronger hang. 
 See the stronger stars for your own use! 
 PS: 
 Studying medicine cannot save the national football team!
</div>

<div class="content">
 When the Chinese athlete laughed that video game championships existed, you, as a professional e-sports player, should use your size 42 shoes to measure just how long his smug face is!
 When parents, relatives, friends, and all of society squint at your gamer profession as improper, all you, as a true lover of e-sports, can do is to show them a unyielding view of your back!
 Have you ever imagined that in four years, e-sports would be one of the events on the Olympic fields. A hair-raising showdown that combines hand speed reactions under a second, great coordination from a five man team, and the ultimate limits of the human response time– –it is the video game competition! Let the enthusiastic followers of the world yell ‘Demacia’!!
</div>

<div class="content">
 There are two names that will be immortal in the long history of NBA history, Michael Jordan and Xie Chen. 
 He is like an omnipotent general leading a soldier. In the NBA siege, every visit to a city is a nightmare for local fans. 
 No one can stop him, just like no one can stop the combination of the best players in the world.
</div>

<div class="content">
 At the beginning of the century, OK swept through the army, the Pistons blue-collar invincible, the Spurs will win in odd years, the sun is fast hitting the whirlwind, and a hundred schools of thought in the basketball world are contending. Li Ang smiled slightly and looked at the big brothers: “Add one, I don’t know how to fight~” 
 It’s just that this “fight” is a bit too serious…
</div>

<div class="content">
 “The Star Development System is activated …” 
 “Scanning host …” 
 “CIC Skills Open, Level 7 …” 
 When this voice sounded in Ning Yi’s mind, he knew that he had returned to the 2013 NBA Summer League and had a chance to make a comeback. 
 He is the strongest small forward, he is the king of the NBA!
</div>

<div class="content">
 Su Bai has crossed over!
 A Chinese teenager living in Argentina!
 With the addition of the live football system, he will be given full-level shooting power and full-level body balance at the beginning!
 A Boca Juniors Super Su Bai appeared.
 On the flank, he rampaged like a tank, and all kinds of unreasonable bursts made Argentina tremble!
 Tottenham, who just sold Bale at a sky-high price, wants to replace Bale in the Premier League with Su Bai.
 Dortmund’s Klopp saw that Su Bai also wanted to let Su Bai join his youth storm!
 Just in European football in 2013!
 A super Su Bai appeared.
 All kinds of crazy sideways overtaking and burst shots made them exclaim that a monster appeared in football!
 Real Madrid spent 100 million to buy Bale, but they were beaten and cried by a teenager from Argentina!
 On the night when Barcelona was bloodbathed by Su Bai, Messi was not sad. He watched Su Bai excitedly begging Su Bai to join the Argentine national team!
 In 2014, he wanted Su Bai to take him to the Hercules Cup!
</div>

<div class="content">
 Every game that never shines is a disappointment to football!
 God opened the door for me, let me live again, I will live up to my years!
 Fate is an excuse for the weak, and luck is a modest word for the strong.
 I climbed up nonstop, not to prove that I could stand on the top, but to make those who look up to my back full of hope.
 My war is destined to be single-handed!
 With blood, I don’t know where to return!
 ——————-
 I came from heaven, going to hell, passing by the world!
</div>

<div class="content">
 “I want to make every away game ring the sound of beat LA, which is tantamount to the most beautiful song for me!”
 Rebuild the glory of the Lakers!
 Chinese players compete for hegemony in the NBA, and the road to becoming the strongest small forward!
</div>

<div class="content">
 Tang Hao accidentally fell off the cliff and died.
 Li Guang: I heard you want to shoot arrows? Come, see the old man wear Yang Zhili in one hundred steps.
 Zhang Shun: Butterfly stroke? Backstroke? breaststroke? Freestyle? It’s troublesome, come and watch the white bars in my wave teach you how to swim.
 Dai Zong: Well, after warming up, you can start! what? The marathon is over? !
 Xiang Yu: Boxers, feel the fear from the Western Chu Overlord! KO! …
 Tang Hao: I am not Jesus, nor is it every day, I just want to prove that the Chinese can also crush you.
</div>

<div class="content">
 There are two magpies in English football, one is Newcastle that everyone is familiar with, and the other is Notts County in the lower league.
 Rebirth served as the chairman of Notts County in 2001. With the superhuman vision to create an invincible division, after reaching the Champions League, he found that the future world football superstars are all in the youth training camp of Notts County. It’s cold in the height!
</div>

<div class="content">
 Gao Han, a rookie coach from the countryside, dreams of becoming a professional head coach. He is alone in European football. After continuous hard work, he led the team to win major championships and eventually became a super coach!
 <div class="author-novels">
 <h3>Author's Other Novels</h3>
 <ul>
 <li><a class="title" title="Super Storm" target="_blank" href="/en/serie-699/super-storm">Super Storm</a></li>
 <li><a class="title" title="Super Coach" target="_blank" href="/en/serie-1684/super-coach">Super Coach</a></li>
 <li><a class="title" title="I Want to Be the King of Football" target="_blank" href="/en/serie-753/i-want-to-be-the-king-of-football">I Want to Be the King of Football</a></li>
 <li><a class="title" title="Red Rebels" target="_blank" href="/en/serie-1858/red-rebels">Red Rebels</a></li>
 <li><a class="title" title="Football Giants" target="_blank" href="/en/serie-1597/football-giants">Football Giants</a></li>
 <li><a class="title" title="Starting with Real Madrid" target="_blank" href="/en/serie-1853/starting-with-real-madrid">Starting with Real Madrid</a></li>
 </ul>
 </div>
</div>

<div class="content">
 When football talents are stored in the form of cards. 
 Blue, purple, red, golden. 
 Ordinary ball star, golden ball star, semi ball king, ball king class. 
 Beckham’s full moon scimitar, Gerrard’s long-range shooter, Baggio’s melancholy prince, Kaka’s stride meteor. 
 Everything is in it. 
 (Notes on the growth of a small football player)
</div>

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

11 The Crucial Day II

You'll Also Like

NovelsNook - Explore Fan-Fiction Novels Online Free!

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

11 The Crucial Day II

You'll Also Like