"Austin, you're the captain of Enyimba FC. What are your thoughts about your team's performance today?"
The tall 8.2-ter-tall center midfielder faced the female reporter with a smile on his face. "We played a good ga, yes, we played well".
"As you likely saw, we dominated the first half, scoring 2 beautiful goals. In the second half, we were not so dominant, especially towards the end of the ga after we conceded the goal".
"In those last monts, it was really nervy, it was a close ga but that's football for you," this tall captain smiled. "What matters is that we scored the 3rd goal and won the ga, claiming all 3 points".
"This season, we are very ambitious, we want to win everything".
The beautiful female reporter smiled on hearing his confidence. "Austin, you were able to scoop up the man of the match award today after an incredible performance where you managed to get a goal and 2 assists, what do you think about your performance?"
Hearing this question, amid his rapid breaths still from the exertion of the ga, this sweaty captain smiled sheepishly. "Of course, I'm proud". He chuckled.
But then, his face turned serious again. "I'm the captain of Enyimba FC. I'm always ready to give my all and help the team, no matter which role I'm required to play by the coach".
"If the coach says I should score, I will try my best to score. Of course, I'll always try to assist and even if he tells to defend, I will defend with my life".
"We scored 3 goals but it's clear that our forward line is not yet firing on all cylinders. It's normal, this is just the first ga of the season, we have ti to build up our chemistry and fitness".
"Hopefully, in subsequent gas, we are able to regain our fluidity in attack". He smiled.
"Talking about fluidity," this female reporter smiled. "What do you think of the rookie's performance today? He assisted your goal".
"Oh, Sam?" This captain grinned. "The boy is definitely destined for great things, getting an assist in your debut ga for a storied club like Enyimba FC is not easy, even more so when the player you're replacing is Olisema".
"The pressure on him was massive but he showed up".
"But he caused the only goal against your team though, what do you think of that?"
Austin scratched the back of his head. "That's normal, it's normal to make mistakes in football. Even I am no God, I do make mistakes a lot on the pitch too".
"He's young, he has a lot of ti to grow and what excites most is that he already showed the willingness to listen". He grinned. "I told him to pass the ball and he did pass, that was how I got my first goal of the season".
"I guess I must say," he looked at the cara. "Thanks Sam, for the assist".
The beautiful female reporter chuckled. "Thanks for having , captain fantastic, do have a great day".
"Thank you".
And with that, Austin Oladapo, the captain of Enyimba FC finally left on his way to et his teammates who were getting ready to leave.
Once he arrived at the dressing room, Coach Yemi Daniel rounded up his players before leaving.
On their way from the stadium, Austin noticed the boy walk towards him. He patted Sam by the head. "What a pass, boy, thank you".
Sam grinned, it felt nice to be validated by his captain.
They returned straight to the hotel where they would spend the night. They would only enter the road to return to Abia State tomorrow morning.
To reduce expenses, the players were asked to stay in pairs, 2 to a hotel room. Sam had another roommate previously, one of the bench players of the team but after the ga today, Austin made a special request to have him as his roommate.
And with that, he got to stay in the sa room as the captain of his team.
In the room, after taking their bath in turns, Austin Oladapo fetched his phone, called the boy over before doing sothing that surprised Sam. Austin opened a replay of the just concluded ga on his phone.
Noting his surprise, Austin grinned. "It's a habit of mine, I love to watch gas imdiately after we play them when the mory is still so fresh".
"That way, I can spot the mistakes I made and what I did best quickly so I can avoid making the sa mistakes in next matches".
"It helps improve," this captain looked at the new midfielder. "It's my first ti on the pitch with you, Sam, but with you, I feel sothing special".
"I believe you're cut out for great things, so I want to impact this on you".
"Oh, thanks". Sam grinned. "I appreciate it".
And with that, relaxed on the bed, the 2 players of Enyimba FC watched the full 90 minutes of the ga that they just played again.
When they were finally done, smiling on all ears, Sam did not expect what followed.
"What was your most glaring mistake?"
He paused. "Uh?"
Austin looked at him, an even look on his face. "You just watched the ga with , right? Didn't you observe your gaplay? What was your most glaring mistake in the ga?"
Sam gulped. 'Why does this feel like I'm back in the walls of school?'
He chuckled awkwardly. "When I lost the ball close to our 18-yard box and they scored a goal from it?"
"No," Austin shook his head. "Your biggest mistake was your indecisiveness. You see the second ti in the sa situation? What you did?"
Sam nodded.
Austin continued. "The second ti, you were not indecisive, you didn't think first, you acted based on what you observed and your instincts and it ended up leading to a goal".
"That first ti, I don't know what you were thinking about but you were indecisive. By the ti you finally decided to move the ball, you already gave the opponents enough ti to close you down and steal the ball".
"A football ga is like war and we are the soldiers. If you hesitate to take the shot, your opponent will shoot and kill you".
"In war, you don't hesitate, you kill".
"Never hesitate in a ga. If you feel you can do it, do it, don't think and if you feel you can't, pass the ball".
"Pass the ball, Sam, that's why you have teammates".
By now, the look in Sam's face was so coy like a boy receiving a dressing down from his mom, he nodded timidly. "Yes, captain".
Austin suddenly laughed. "No need to be so serious, I just wanted you to rember it and improve".
"Anyways, I heard this is your first professional ga but damn, you already have a good grasp of spatial awareness. That's impressive, honestly".
The conversation continued so more before food arrived from the hotel, drawing the talk to a halt imdiately as the 2 football players dove in.
After eating, exhausted, Austin slept.
Sam didn't sleep imdiately though. The adrenaline and excitent of the ga still coursed through him, keeping him awake.
But most importantly, he had unread system notifications to look at.
Rubbing his palms together excitedly, he opened them.
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