Sung Min packed up his bag, put on some good clothes and then boarded a taxi to the stadium.
Since Momyung Fc was too poor to build a personal stadium, they always hire a public stadium for all their home games and training sessions.
"Welcome back buddy" was the first thing Tae Hyun said the moment Sung-Min walked into the dressing room. "It's good to have you back."
"It's good to be back."
Tae Hyun gave Sung Min a warm hug, and then everyone else in the room followed. Gave him a hug after welcoming him back. After all the pleasantries has been exchanged, Sung-Min placed his bag on the shelf, took out his Jersey and wore it.
Minutes later the coach walked in with the assistant coach.
"Let's briefly go over the formation and tactics before the game begins." The coach spoke while pulling out a white board. Then he drew a simplified illustration of a football field.
"We are going to play using the 4-4-2 formation once again." Using small circles, he mapped out the positioning on the board.
"Because we no longer have Yuji, we cannot use the wing anymore. So we will use two strikers up top." The coach points to the positions as he speaks, "Horata and Choi Kang Ta will be the strikers, our midfield will stay the same." He points at one of the DMs, "the only difference is that when we attack, Tae Hyun will leave the defensive midfield position and occupy the center. That way our strikers will have support from behind. It's a difficult job, I hope you can handle it." The coach turned to Tae Hyun
"Yes sir!!" Tae Hyun yelled out enthusiastically.
"Our defence will stay the same," the coach added, he then continued, "today, we face the strongest team in the league, Jeju Island Fc. Let's give the game our best, and strive for the win. "Does anyone have any suggestions or question.
"Yes."
Everyone turned to the direction of the voice' origin to see Sung-Min's hand hanging in the air.
"Okay Sung Min, what questions do you have?" The coach asked curiously.
"It's more of a suggestion actually," Sung Min got up from his feet, and everyone watched him with burning intrigue ad he walked toward the white board. Since Sung Min barely plays in any match, he had never contributed anything to the team's strategy before.
"How about," Sung Min began, "We play 4-3-3 instead of the 4-4-2. One attacking midfielder, two defensive midfielder, two wingers and one striker. Its an easier formation, and since we are playing against the strongest team, I suggest we use a formation that we are already acquainted with."
"Good suggestion Sung Min, but like I said earlier. We don't have a left footed winger anymore because yuji is no longer with us. Now, who do you suggest play in the right wing if we use the 4-3-3 formation.
Sung Min cleared his throat, "I will play in the position."
The room first went grave silent after he said those words, then someone started laughing which caused a chain reaction, in a few seconds everyone in that roam was roaring out in laughter. It became so loud that a passerby would think the building's foundation was shaking.
"We are already in last place, you want us to be banned for being worse than this?!"
"When did you become funny bro?"
"Playing with you is like playing with an automatic red card man."
"For real, it's better to leave the position open, because you'll be doing more harm than good.
"Let's maintain decorum." The coach said while wiping tears off his face and trying hard not to giggle. "Sung Min, first, you are right footed, the right wing needs a left footer. It is a bad position for you." The coach paused and fixes his gaze at Sung Min "I don't know if you are being serious, but the two of us know your abilities well and we both also know that you wouldn't be able to do anything out there."
"We'll see," the coach said while tapping Sung Min on the shoulder. Then he turned to the other players, "come, let's go out and fight!"
The players screamed in unison, then they all matched to the playing field.
Sung Min sat on the bench and watched the match kick off. The first goal came at the thirteenth minute, a cross came into his team's eighteen box, and Bong Su, the top scoorer of the league headed the ball right into the goal post.
At the 25th minute another chance presented itself. The opposition passed the ball around, right at the edge of his team's eighteen yard box. As his team scuffles to get get the ball back, a pass slipped past the defence' backline and into the eighteen yard box. Bong Su who already started making his run before the pass was made caught up to the ball before their goalkeeper could reach it. Then he chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and into the goal post making the score 0 - 2.
Sung Min sat, itching to get in and play for more than an hour. The score is now 0 - 6.
"Get ready, the coach wants to buy you in." The assistant referee Kim Na na said to the person sitting beside Sung Min. With the match having less than twenty minutes left for play, Sung Min's impatience grew. As Kim Na na walked by, Sung Min pulled her by the wrist to get her attention.
"Could you please get the coach to sub me in?" Sung Min pleaded, "I can change the flow of this game."
"Okay... I will try..." Kim Nana walked to the coach's box where the coach stood and then started to speak to him.
Minutes later she returned with a frown on her face, "He said that he will bring you in at the right time.
"Okay," Sung Min relaxed his back at the bench waiting to be subbed in till the final whistle ended the whole game.
After they exchanged pleasantries with the opposing team, the coach delivered a little speech in the dressing room before dismissing everyone."
"Sung Min, can I have a word with you." The coach asked, and Sung-Min realising that it was a request he couldn't say no to, he followed the coach to a quiet spot.
"What was all that today?" The coach asked.
"What was what?"
"You, wanting me to play you today. You know that the reason that I played you in the last match of last season was because it was the last match of last season, the outcome was insignificant. And even at that, I only gave you four minutes to play. So, what made you think I was ever going to play you today?"
"I have improved, I just want you to give me a chance and I will prove it to you."
"I have already given you your chance so many time, and you proved nothing to me. Now, the club told me that your contract is being terminated, maybe that's what drove you to this. And I won't blame you."
"No, that's not it, I can win the game for you, I really can."
"Well sadly that won't happen because I am not going to play you in our next match, which is your last match for the team. I am the coach, I have to always put the team first above everyone. So do not hate me, you don't have to come to training too since you'll be leaving."
"Okay..."
The coach walked off leaving Sung Min to wallow in his own thought. If he doesn't play in the next game his career was over, because no one is ever going to give the 24 years old dude that was fired by the worst club in the league a "chance".