Isaac opened his eyes, and that was where his dream ended. He felt despondency build up after realizing what he had witnessed was all a dream.
He was not in the world cup final, he was in his old room, and today he had to attend the soccer trials. If he failed, he'd have to give in to his grandmother's demands and go to university.
It'd be the end of his dream.
Isaac jumped out of bed, and stumbled over to he shower. After having the dance performance of his life, partly because he was just having a nice time and partly because his house had no hot water.
Soon, Isaac was dressed up before he left the house. He was soon skipping amongst the sticks and stones, on his way to where he'd wait for the minibus taxi.
After he caught the taxi, he jumped into stuffed up vehicle. He squeezed into the taxi and simply bared with patience until he reached his venue.
The biggest soccer trials in the country was taking place at Hercules s Cronje Sports Fields. Isaac strolled into the venue, and he found that at least a few dozen other boys stood within the same grounds.
The calm breeze caressed his skin, which tingled with excitement. He couldn't believe it, even now that he was here. He'd been selected to take part in the trials, after he had participated in a football tournament.
Rumours had it that famous teams from Europe had come to observe this particular trials, due to the honorific Mandela day.
"How did I get selected?" Isaac knew himself to be very slow, and his skills were average. His only unique feature was his height, but his scrawny figure didn't look convincingly strong.
Isaac however, could not complain. He'd worked hard, playing for his local club. His position was a no. 9, though he was never first choice.
Even if he was a little good, his competition ensured he'd still not be picked. The person he competed with for the striker position was Sfiso Hlanti. Sfiso was a one in a thousand talent, he was extremely fast, he could dribble, shoot and most of all he was a very entertaining baller. He played the game beautifully, and he was not afraid of dribbling or performing extravagant moves on the field of play.
Issac and Sfiso had both been picked to come to the tournament after they made it to the final.
In the final, the coach played with two strikers, so Isaac got a chance. Though he never scored, he assisted all 3 of Sfiso's goals. He did this by making use of his height, and heading all of the long balls or crosses into Sfiso's feet, and Sfiso finished his chances.
"I wish I was as good as him..." Isaac sighed. Then he'd have been able to easily pass the trials, now he'd just have to try his best.
"Attention! Come here everyone!" A middle aged African man called everyone to where he stood. As soon as everyone stood around him, he began to speak.
"Goodmorning everyone,"
"good morning."
"are you all good today?"
"Yes..."
"I can't hear you?"
"Yes!"
"Good," the man placed his hands behind his back. "you have to show character and determination because today, while the coaches may also look that you are fast or you dribble well, they will look at how you behave, your attitude. We want winners, only winners. Understood!?"
"Yes coach."
"now, there are 72 players here today, and you will all be separated into 4 teams. There will be 2 knockout matches played, and the winners of those matches will gain the opportunity of playing a final, in which the winners will be decided. Everyone will get a chance to play and showcase their abilities, and the coaches will analyze their performance and judge whether the players meet their standards. I can only advise you to perform to the best of your ability, and Goodluck to you."
The players mummured a reply before they were placed in their respective teams.
Every match was 60 minutes, there would be two rounds of matches played that day. Apparently, on the first day, the unwanted players would be weeded out, and the next day only the chosen players would take part in the proceedings.
"A chosen player, huh? Am I even that good?" As much as he tried to be optimistic, Isaac did not believe in his own abilities. Isaac sighed, he just had to stay positive. In their separate groups of 18 each, the teams began to train. Nobody held back, and everyone put in a 150%.
Soon, the training was over and the teams were announced.
First the keeper, a tall thin guy stepped forward. Then the 4 defenders, one of the center back was short and bald, and the other was a little taller, and more broad shouldered. The left fullback was lean, and he seemed fast, and the right fullback was pretty ordinary.
The defensive midfielder was also pretty ordinary. One of the midfielders was a slender boy, with a stylish cut, and the other midfielder also had a stylish cut, with the hair on his sides short.
The left winger was Sfiso, who coincidentally ended up on Isaac's team. The right winger was a short boy with dyed hair, but he seemed pretty agile. The striker, was a boy with not much noticeable about him.
Isaac sighed, he'd have to watch from the bench. After he took his place on the bench, he just watched hopelessly as the game commenced.
"Why did I even come?" Isaac wondered. "Gogo was right... She works so hard and I just refuse her instructions and chase this... I should aim for a decent job and stop this nonsense."
Ever since he was a young boy, all he did was make sure his every move led him toward his dream of being a football player. He trained himself in all ways he knew, whether it was mentally or physically. That was why he was fitter then most boys his age. He was also more intelligent than others in regard to football tactics, and his football basics were pretty solid.
But in the end, it was talent that got people his age into professional football.
He should just give up.
[SYSTEM AWAKENED!]
[FITTING USER HAS BEEN FOUND FOR THE LEGENDARY CARD SYSTEM]