Tuesday arrived, humid and sweltering, as the sun climbed high into the sky. Cleiton, Cássio, and Nathan met at the training center, the tension from the previous day's grueling session still weighing on them. None of the three hesitated as they stepped through the gates, though—they knew the day ahead would be brutal, especially with Roberval waiting for them, stopwatch in hand and clipboard stacked with notes.
"Good morning, boys," Roberval greeted them, his deep voice carrying an unmistakable tone of command. "I hope you slept well because today, we're going to push resistance, speed, and explosiveness. And let me warn you—if I see anyone slacking off, I'll crank it up even more."
The trio exchanged quick glances, silently nodding in unison. There was no way out.
The training began with a 15-minute continuous run around the field. Roberval paced the sidelines, barking instructions. "Posture, Cássio! Knees up, Nathan! Cleiton, you run like a defender, but I want more pace. Pick it up!"
Nathan led the group, setting a strong rhythm to keep his friends motivated, while Cássio and Cleiton adjusted their strides to stay on pace. As the minutes dragged on, the heat bore down on them, sweat streaming as the effort became visibly taxing. By the final minutes, their breaths were labored, but determination pushed them forward.
There was no reprieve. Roberval immediately moved on to progressive sprints. Each of them had to complete 15 one-minute sprints, increasing intensity with every set.
"Cássio, you're a fullback. I want to see you explode into every sprint like you're overtaking a defender. Cleiton, imagine there's a striker bearing down on you. Show me you can cut him off."
The first five sprints passed relatively smoothly, but by the sixth, fatigue began to set in. Cleiton bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for air before the next sprint.
"You've got this, Cleiton," Nathan said, giving his friend a light pat on the shoulder. Cássio nodded in agreement, his voice strained but resolute. "We're not stopping now, Cleiton. Let's go!"
The final sprints pushed them to their limits. Cássio's legs burned with every step, while Cleiton's vision blurred as sweat dripped into his eyes. Nathan, though naturally more resilient, began to feel the weight of the unrelenting pace. Yet, through sheer will, they pushed through, collapsing at the end, their bodies trembling with exhaustion.
Roberval wasn't done yet. After a brief cooldown walk, he led them to another part of the field outfitted with weights, cones, and agility ladders. "Time for strength and explosiveness," he said, gesturing toward the equipment. "This isn't just about muscle—it's about control and power. Let's go."
They began with progressive squats. Cleiton, the bar balanced across his shoulders, executed each movement deliberately, his quadriceps and glutes straining with the effort. Roberval corrected his form several times but nodded approvingly when Cleiton managed a clean final set with added weight.
Cássio breezed through the initial reps, prompting Roberval to increase his load. "You've got speed, but you need strength to hold your ground. Push it, Cássio!"
Nathan, steady as always, performed each squat with precision, showing minimal signs of struggle even as the weights increased.
Next came the leg press and hamstring curls. The effort was evident in every muscle fiber. Cássio's legs began to tremble, but he pressed on, buoyed by Nathan's encouraging words.
"Just one more set, Cássio. You can do this!" Nathan cheered as he completed his own set, sweat glistening on his brow.
The final strength exercises—stiff-legged deadlifts and Romanian deadlifts—tested their endurance to the limit. Cleiton, though visibly drained, maintained impeccable technique. Roberval jotted notes on his clipboard but remained tight-lipped, his stern expression unchanging.
Without pausing for long, Roberval transitioned them to agility and balance drills. Cones, ladders, and wooden boxes were arrayed on the grass. "I want precision with every step and power in every jump. Cleiton, you're first."
Cleiton navigated the ladder, carefully placing each foot in the right spot. He stumbled initially but corrected himself after a few tries. "Faster, Cleiton!" Roberval snapped. "This isn't ballet—move like an athlete!"
Cássio moved through the drill more smoothly, his footwork quick and natural. Nathan, as expected, performed flawlessly, drawing a rare comment from Roberval: "Good, Nathan. But keep the intensity up."
The box jumps followed, each leap seeming to drain their reserves of energy. Cleiton's knees wobbled after a few repetitions, but Cássio offered a hand to steady him. "Come on, Cleiton. We're almost there."
The session concluded with a set of jumping jacks and lateral cone runs, every movement a battle against their own limits. By the end, their shirts were soaked, their legs felt like lead, and their breaths came in ragged gasps.
Roberval finally called it. "Decent work today," he said, his rigid demeanor softening slightly. "You're far from ready, but if you keep this up, you might get somewhere. Tomorrow's another day. Be prepared."
The sun hung low as the three trudged toward the locker room, the exhaustion weighing heavily on their bodies. Cleiton let out a deep sigh, running a towel over his face.
"That was brutal," he said, his voice hoarse.
Cássio laughed weakly. "Brutal is an understatement. But we're getting better—that's what counts."
Nathan placed a reassuring hand on their shoulders, a tired but confident smile on his face. "We'll get through this. Together."
As they disappeared into the dimly lit hallway, one thing was certain: this was only the beginning of a relentless journey. But for now, they had made it through another day, their bond stronger than ever.
---
Wednesday began with cooler weather, but the relief was short-lived. As soon as Cleiton, Cássio, and Nathan arrived at the training center, they found Roberval organizing equipment with his usual stern expression. He greeted them with a daunting phrase: "Today, we're separating the boys from the men."
The day kicked off with a 30-minute continuous run, led by Nathan. The effort quickly took its toll, with exhaustion evident in the trio's faces and movements. Roberval, merciless as always, pushed each of them beyond what they thought was possible, alternating between barking commands and correcting their form. When the run ended, they barely had time to catch their breath before starting 15 sets of progressive sprints. Each stride felt like it was draining what little energy they had left, but the three refused to quit, fueled by Nathan's words of encouragement and their shared determination.
The second half of the session focused on balance and explosive drills. They tackled challenges like platform jumps and lateral cone runs, all under Roberval's watchful eye, who let no mistake go unnoticed. Exhaustion was written all over their faces, but Nathan led the way, motivating Cleiton and Cássio to push past their limits.
By the end of the day, they still had a 25-minute continuous run to complete. Though every step was a struggle, the three powered through and finished without stopping. Roberval, visibly satisfied, closed the session with a warning: "Tomorrow will be even harder."
Exhausted but proud, Cleiton, Cássio, and Nathan left the field. The camaraderie between them and their shared desire to improve kept the group united, ready to face whatever came next.
The penultimate training day of the week arrived with a blazing sun, promising to make everything even more challenging. Cleiton, Cássio, and Nathan showed up on the field ready, though the fatigue from previous days was evident in their faces and movements. Roberval, however, seemed indifferent to their exhaustion.
"Today, we're focusing on precision and decision-making," he announced while arranging cones, ladders, and hurdles on the field. "I want you to think fast and execute even faster."
The morning started with a technical circuit involving agility ladders and short cone runs. "Faster, Cássio! Cleiton, you move like a tree trunk! Nathan, don't slow down now!" Roberval's critiques were paired with technical corrections and practical demonstrations, leaving no room for unnecessary breaks.
The second part of the session targeted reflexes. Roberval set up an area where the three had to react quickly to random stimuli, such as balls being launched in different directions. Cleiton struggled at first but adjusted as the drill progressed. Despite his offensive skills, Cássio showed slower reflexes under pressure, while Nathan excelled, displaying impressive game awareness.
Cleiton was tasked with leading a defensive organization drill. He had to command a line of reserve players while fending off quick attacks spearheaded by Nathan and Cássio. The pressure was intense, and Roberval didn't hold back on his criticisms.
"Cleiton, organize that line like it's the last chance to save the game! Cássio, less dribbling, more quick thinking! Nathan, stop going easy on them!"
Nathan shone, scoring twice during the exercise, but Cleiton eventually adjusted his defense, blocking the final attacks. Cássio alternated between well-placed crosses and overambitious dribbles that cost possession a few times.
The afternoon wrapped up with recovery runs and stretching, but the group's exhaustion was palpable.
The final day of training before the weekend games was less physically demanding but far more focused on game simulations. Roberval stepped aside, and Cerqueira took over, shifting the tone of the session.
Cerqueira divided the starting lineup into two groups. Cleiton anchored the defense, while Cássio played on the right flank, alternating between attack and defense. Nathan and Claudio Sousa took center stage in the offensive drills.
"I want precision in your passes and organization in your plays," Cerqueira instructed as he walked along the sidelines, his eyes scanning the field. "Think about what's coming, not just what's happening."
Cleiton displayed leadership in the backline, anticipating several dangerous plays, though he still struggled to fine-tune the defensive line. Cássio balanced his offensive runs with quicker defensive recoveries, showing noticeable improvement.
Cerqueira emphasized set pieces, both defensive and offensive. Cleiton was tested in his positioning during corner kicks and free kicks against. He stood firm, clearing several dangerous balls. On the attacking side, Nathan and Cássio participated in simulated corner and free-kick plays, adding variety and creativity to the drills.
At the end of the session, Cerqueira gathered the team at the center of the field. The players were exhausted but attentive.
"This weekend is decisive," he began, his voice steady and commanding. "We're currently second in the standings, tied on points with Bahia but trailing on goal difference. What does that mean? It means our task is simple: win. We can't control what Bahia does against Juazeirense on Saturday or Barcelona de Ilhéus on Sunday. Both are tough games, especially against Barcelona, who's sitting in third. They might drop points. They might not."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the group.
"But none of that matters if we don't do our job. On Saturday, we face Zebrão. On Sunday, it's Galícia. Two games we have to win. No excuses, no mistakes. Do you want to be champions? Then prove you deserve it."
The players exchanged glances, feeling the gravity of the moment. Cleiton and Cássio, in particular, understood this was a chance for redemption. Nathan placed a hand on Cleiton's shoulder, offering a small smile.
"We'll do this together," he said.
Cerqueira concluded with one final note. "Rest tonight. You've given everything this week, but tomorrow, the real test begins. I want each of you ready to show who we are as a team."
The group dispersed, carrying the pressure and anticipation of the decisive weekend ahead. Cleiton, Cássio, and Nathan walked to the locker room together, steeling themselves for the challenges to come.