In the dressing room, every player was getting themselves ready for the match, everyone was excited about the match but Paulo wasn't the excited one about the match, he was sitting in the corner of the dressing room sad and clumsy, away from everyone's attention. It was looking like he was trying to hide from others while everyone was extremely motivated for the match and was talking about today's match. Fabio came out of the washroom of the dressing room wearing the team jersey, he shook hands with some of his teammates and gave them his best wishes for today's match. While shaking hands with his teammates one by one he came across Paulo who was sitting in the corner looking lost in his thoughts.
Fabio felt a little bit sceptical about his sudden behaviour change. He bent to his knees and tried to communicate with Paulo. Fabio snapped his fingers in front of him to get his attention, Paulo who was lost in thoughts came back to reality and looked at Fabio, Fabio then asked.
"What happened amigo? aren't you excited about the match?"
Paulo answered.
"No! I am very the match today, I can't for the match to get started."
Paulo nervously smiled but Fabio knew that he was trying to pretend to be excited but the truth was something else. Fabio said.
"Oh really? but it doesn't look like it."
Paulo asked.
"Look like what?
Fabio answered.
" Look like you are excited about the game, I can see that you are trying to pretend that you are excited."
Paulo quit bluffing in front of Fabio and said.
"Yeah! you are right I am not feeling excited about the game like before anymore."
Fabio then asked the reason for his not being excited about the game.
"Ok, can I ask the reason why are you not excited about the match, today in the morning you woke up so early and got ready so quickly as you will never get to play ever again?"
Paulo smirked and replied.
"Stop taunting me about it, I am sorry for that what I have done."
Fabio said.
"Paulo, there is nothing to be sorry about and I am not mocking you for that, I am just asking you why are you not excited about the game anymore just like you were excited in the morning?"
Paulo in a low tone replied.
"The coach has decided not to start me in today's match."
Fabio asked in surprise.
"Why? Why the coach isn't starting you in today's match?"
Paulo answered back.
"You don't what happened moments ago on the pitch when we were doing rondos session, I just kicked you in your head."
Fabio replied.
"Yeah, but that was an accident and how that is related to your not starting the match?"
Paulo answered.
"Because the Coach gave me the challenge to do five successful interceptions in just five minutes and I will be in the starting eleven but all thanks to my stupidity I had ruined everything."
Fabio felt sympathetic to Paulo, he tried to console paulo by frankly putting his hand on his shoulder, Fabio said.
"Don't worry Paulo I will talk to the coach and ask him to start you in the match today."
Paulo was asking him not to do so but Fabio was adamant and constantly told him that he will ask the coach. While they were arguing with each other suddenly team captain Cilo Eincho came across and saw them arguing, he interrupted in between and asked.
"What are you both doing here? and Paulo why didn't you wear the jersey?"
Fabio stood back on his feet and replied to Cilo Eincho.
"Captain the coach has decided not to start Paulo in today's match."
Cilo Eincho said.
"So what if isn't starting in today's match he still has to wear the jersey because he is the substitute player of the team."
Fabio questioned Cilo Eincho.
"But Captain, Paulo as a substitute? didn't you know how good he is? and you are saying that he has to be a substitute why?"
Cilo Eincho replied in an angry tone.
"What do you mean by he has to be a substitute, does being a substitute player a bad thing?"
Fabio was numb for a moment when Eincho asked him, he couldn't answer that question. Cilo Eincho then asked Paulo to get up and said.
"Paulo if you are a substitute in today's match does not mean you are not worthy to be a player in our team, being a substitute is also important as a starter, there is nothing to be sad about it, now wear your jersey."
Paulo was emotional at that moment so he questioned Cilo Eincho in anger.
"Captain why are you saying that I should not be sad about not being a starter in today's match, do you never feel bad whenever you are told by the coach that you are not starting in today's match, how do you feel captain?"
Cilo Eincho wasn't surprised or got furious with Paulo's rude behaviour towards him. Fabio tried to control the situation, he apologised to Cilo Eincho on behalf of Paulo and asked Paulo to behave, Cilo Eicho showed his hand to Fabio and asked him to stop, Fabio stopped and didn't say anything, Cilo Eincho then calmly replied to Paulo.
"Do you know Paulo my first whole season was as a substitute player, yes I felt at that time but it was necessary for me and my team, sometimes you have to accept the faith and more especially what your coach says. If the coach tells you his decision that's not because of his interest but what is best for the team. If the coach has decided not to start you then there would be a reason behind it and who knows that it might be for your good, you should respect his decision."
Cilo Eincho's advice to Paulo started to change his heart, Paulo realized how wrong he was and apologised to Cilo Eincho for his rude behaviour. Cilo Eincho accepted his apology and gave him some motivation.
"Paulo, you know? that this the last match of our most senior player Lorenzo?"
Paulo nodded his head to tell him he knew about it, Cilo Eincho then said.
"You should feel lucky that you don't have to play as a substitute for a whole season just like me. It's only for today's match only after he leaves you are going to be a starter of our team."
Paulo felt little more delighted than before from Cilo Eincho's speech, Cilo Eincho put his hands over his shoulder and said.
"Paulo, Lorenzo was our main player for the last eight to ten years and now you have a chance to show everyone that you are the one who is going to be our next important player by coming off the bench and I hope that you will do exactly what I am expecting from you to do."
After those words from Cilo Eincho, Paulo felt much more confident and motivated now he was no longer feeling guilty about being a substitute in today's match instead he was much more excited now. He thanked Cilo Eincho and promised.
"Thank you, captain, now I no longer feel bad or ashamed of being a substitute instead I feel much more confident now. I promise you, captain, that will stand up to your expectations and perform exactly how you are expecting from me in today's match."
Cilo Eincho appreciated him and said.
"That's the spirit, Paulo, now c'mon wear your jersey."
Paulo smiled and picked up his jersey to wear, suddenly Ale Piola came to the door of the dressing room and instructed his players to reach the tunnel of the stadium, the match is going to be started in ten minutes. Cilo Eincho then told his teammates to follow him to the tunnel, and everyone followed him in the tunnel and left the dressing room, meanwhile, Paulo was still wearing his jersey, and he hurried to wear his jersey but Ale Piola told him.
"Paulo, you don't need to rush take you and come straight to the pitch after you wear your jersey. Ok?"
Paulo replied in a delighted tone.
"Ok, coach! thanks for the favour."
Ale Piola got a little bit sceptical about Paulo's changed behaviour but he simply ignored it and took his exit from the dressing room, left Paulo in the dressing room all alone.